RACING: THE THEORY that a spell over jumps can transform a horse will be put to the test at Roscommon this afternoon where Magical Memoir attempts to significantly improve on her previous flat form in the mile-and-a-half maiden.
Jessica Harrington’s charge comes into the race with a rating of just 61 after six races on the level, the best of which was a sixth at Ballinrobe this summer. Even for an end-of-September maiden that is an unappealing profile but the difference with Magical Memoir now is a pair of starts over hurdles that saw a significant improvement in performance.
Only the stewards deprived her of a victory at Galway when she was placed behind Days Ahead and she turned that around at Listowel this month in the style of a very decent juvenile hurdler.
Harrington switches her back from hurdles and it will be interesting to see if Magical Memoir can translate that transformation back to the flat.
Today’s feature is the Grade Three Kilbegnet Novice Chase. Michael O’Leary is represented by both Turf War and Sorceror. Turf War has Ruby Walsh on his back but, despite not being seen for seven months, Sorceror had decent form behind the likes of Captain Cee Bee and Shakervilz last season and looks a type to improve. Salesin though could trump the lot of them.
David Wachman runs Mykonos in the opening maiden but Wayne Lordan’s presence on Nucals Star looks significant. Co Galway teenager Johnny Killahena rode his first winner at Gowran on Saturday when Teachers Choice won and the team can defy a 5lb penalty in the apprentice handicap.
