Magical Derby double dream remains alive for Guilfoyle

It genuinely does not feel like a year has passed since the kennels of Pat Guilfoyle in Moneygall was preparing to create history by landing his first Derby success with the wonderful Good News but he will now bid for back to back successes in the sport’s premier event as Magical Bale takes his place in the final of the 2018 Boylesports Irish Derby this Saturday.

It has been 27 years since a trainer managed to defend an Irish Derby and it will be an almost unfathomable accomplishment should the kennels complete the feat given that Good News was a sole entry last year while 2018 saw just three entries as rivalling kennels contested with many more.

Entering last Saturday’s semi-finals, Pat Guilfoyle faced the complication of having his two remaining challengers housed side-by-side in the inside traps and while the loss of Cabra Hurricane will have been a disappointment, the battling qualities that Magical Bale displayed will have filled the Moneygall connections with much hope for a quick return to Derby success.

 

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