Mag can find the strength to produce Lifford Oaks magic

MAGICAL MAG is yet to win in the event but the Irish Derby finalist can get it right when it matters most to land the €10,000 final of the BOYLE Sports Lifford Oaks over 525 yards at the County Donegal venue (9.24).

One of three Pat Guilfoyle-trained finalists, she looked set for an emphatic semi-final victory seven days ago only to falter dramatically close home and succumb to Westway Rossa but, with the winner clocking a best-of-year 28.54sec, it definitely felt like a case of what might have been.

PREVIEW - Lifford Oaks final is live on sisracing.tv on Saturday

THE Lifford Oaks has returned for the first time since 2009 with BOYLE Sports stepping in as title sponsor for the €10,000 to-the-winner event over 525 yards. Damian Maginn’s Westway Rossa clocked the fastest time of the year, 28.54sec, when catching Magical Mag in the semis but the

SIS RacingJonathan Kay

Again likely to lead, the selection's supporters will have to have eyes on the pack in behind but her sheer class makes her tough to get away from with Westway Rossa again suggested as her chief threat.

Lifford RM Spencer Saberton casts his eye over the card via the link below, suffice to say other open suggestions are Michael Taggart's Blackstone Hoffa (8.32) and Seamus McCloskey's Cosmonaut (9.06).

INTERVIEW: Lifford is relishing a return to big time - RM Saberton

SATURDAY sees the biggest night at Lifford Stadium since the north-west Irish track reopened in 2023 with the feature being the final of the €10,000 to-the-winner BOYLE Sports Lifford Oaks - the whole meeting is live on sisracing.tv Jonathan Kay spoke to Lifford RM Spencer Saberton about the

SIS RacingJonathan Kay

There is also some serious prize money on offer at the UK's principal meeting at Star Pelaw this evening where none of the 13 races is worth less than £500 with the majority carrying a winner's prize of £1,000.

The fixture celebrates the one-year anniversary of the purchase of the track by Ben Keith's Star Sports since when it has gone from one to three meetings a week and recently staged a Category Two double-header with even grander plans ahead.

Pick of the contests is perhaps the Keith Family Celebrate Star Pelaw's One Year Anniversary Trophy over 590m at 7.14 in which Dean Blackbird's Stewards Cup consolation winner Killieford Goram is taken to complete a hat-trick. 

The BGBF Northern Plate over 435m at 8.09 can see Glenn Foot's Marleypark Ken go one better with a fourth straight win, while the Alan Dobbin Bookmakers Marathon Trophy over 780m at 8.43 pits together three recent course and distance winners although preference is for Debbie Calvert's eight-bend debutant Agile Ange.

Other fancies are Foot's Ballinabola Eve (9.01) and Tom Heilbron's Unanimous Leon (9.31).

Doncaster is another track with evening opens including two heats of a 483m competition for which the suggestions are David Fradgley's Stonepark Wes (7.58) and Oaks-winning Barry Denby's Bellmore Ginger (8.16), while Fradgley's Tiermana Lucky can complete a six-timer in the 450m finale at 8.52.

Doncaster also has early action with Sue Watson's Lead By Example fancied in a B2 at 12.24, while Oxford switches to a Saturday morning fixture this week where Chris Hamblin's Elsies Champ can beat top grade sprint rivals at 11.54.

Youghal provides the afternoon service with Tomas Leahy's Barnfield Layla capable of opening her account at the fourth time of asking in A4 at 2.44.

Killieford Goram (nap)
T1 Star Pelaw 7.14