Former leading and Cheltenham Gold Cup winning jump jockey Adrian Maguire registered his biggest success as a trainer when front-running Golden Kite under a fine ride from Shane Hassett, won the featured €90,000 ladbrokes.com Munster National Handicap Chase at Limerick today.
The son of Anshan was sent to the front by Hassett from flag-fall and although he was joined and strongly pressed by Fisher Bridge from the second last fence, responded well to Hassett's urgings to score a short head win.
Afterwards an ecstatic Maguire stated "I never won this race as a jockey myself but it is brilliant to win as a trainer!"
He added "Shane gave the horse an outstanding ride and the horse would burst his heart trying for you. He was unlucky at Listowel in the Kerry National where he was unlucky not to be brought down but his rider Brian O'Connell minded him afterwards and brought us back the horse in one piece."
"We'll enjoy this day and see about plans then. Good ground is the key to him but his heart is bigger than himself so Aintree fences may be too big for him longterm. He is owned by a gentleman, Anthony Calnan, a doctor from Bandon."
