Cheltenham 2006 /

Maguire Hoping Illusion Can Lord It At The Festival 06/02/06

The victory of Galileo in the 2002 Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle has proved the highlight so far in the career of talented jump jockey Jason Maguire, and the 25-year-old Irishman is looking forward to improving his record at The Festival in 2006.

Lord Of Illusion
© racing-images.co.uk

With 29 winners to his name so far this season (up to and including February 2), Maguire is looking to beat his best total of 46 achieved during the 2003/04 season. With the likes of Idle Talk and Lord Of Illusion in his armoury - trained by Gloucestershire handler Tom George, to whom Maguire is stable jockey and the trainer of Galileo - the rider is hopeful of adding to his Cheltenham tally.

Maguire revealed: “Lord Of Illusion loves Cheltenham and he loves good ground. He looked a real improving sort last season but needed his first couple of runs back this time. His run behind Joaaci at Cheltenham (beaten a length and three quarters in the Cheltenham Racing Limited Handicap Chase on New Year’s Day) was an excellent effort. He’s in the totesport Gold Cup and I think he’ll also be entered in the William Hill National Hunt Chase - but I’d say he’s a definite for Cheltenham.

“Idle Talk (entered in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase and the totesport Gold Cup) is an out-and-out stayer and really needs soft ground. I’m looking forward to getting on him again - he’ll have improved from his last run (a victory in a novices’ chase at Exeter on January 2), is a really exciting horse and a great long-term prospect.”

Another horse on whom Maguire has enjoyed success this season is Attorney General, trained by Jim Old. The partnership are two from two this campaign, most recently when accounting for Stormez by 10 lengths under top weight in the intercasino.co.uk Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, a performance that had the son of Sadler’s Wells earmarked for a possible crack at the Ladbrokes World Hurdle. He had previously demonstrated his aptitude for Prestbury Park with a victory in a qualifier for the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle on December 9.

Maguire explained: “Attorney General is a little star who has kept improving this season. I’m not sure about the form of the race last time, but he couldn’t have done any more under top weight. He’s the type of horse that you have to keep asking him for more in a race, but he gives his all and is so gutsy. We’ll just have to see whether or not he’s up to competing in the top class races.”

Other possible mounts at The Festival include Europa, trained by Ferdy Murphy, who could bid for the Mildmay Of Flete, in which he was brought down last year.

Having experienced the joy of partnering a winner at The Festival, Maguire is keen to ensure that winner number two is not long in coming.

He added: “Winning on Galileo was just unbelievable - it was only the horse’s second run over hurdles and it was such a surprise really.

“It means the world to ride a winner at the Cheltenham Festival - everyone takes notice when you have success there, and hopefully this year I’ll go with my strongest book of rides yet.”