Adrian Maguire flying high with Kite

Golden Kite gave Adrian Maguire his biggest success as a trainer when making all the running to take the Ladbrokes.com Munster National Handicap Chase at Limerick yesterday.

The 20-1 shot, ridden by 3lb claimer Shane Hassett, was pressed hard in the closing stages by Fisher Bridge who appeared to be travelling the better, but Golden Kite kept pulling out more to get the verdict by a short head.

Tinakellylad was six lengths away in third with Duers fourth, while 9-4 favourite Dancing Tornado was never able to get in a blow for Tony McCoy after making several errors.

"I never won this race as a jockey myself but it is brilliant to win it as a trainer," said Maguire. "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 almost 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."

Back on the Flat, Paul Hanagan's exhausting quest for the jockeys' title took him to Goodwood yesterday and his visit produced the necessary winner to take his lead over Richard Hughes back to nine.

A bond has grown between the two riders as they head to racecourses far away from their usual patches and their gentlemanly duel has injected excitement into many a run-of-the-mill meeting. Hanagan was given a one-day ban (25 October) for hitting Celtic Sixpence (2-1) in the wrong place en-route to a comfortable defeat of Its You Again in the Bet At Bluesq.com Median Auction Maiden Stakes, but Hughes is suspended for seven days after next Saturday.

Both the first two were trained in Newmarket by Mick Quinlan. "I'm normally here for the Glorious meeting but it's lovely to be here on a day like this," said Hanagan, enjoying the Indian summer as much as racegoers. "The boss (Richard Fahey) had a few runners, so I think I would have been here under normal circumstances anyway.

"We have been up and down the country like maniacs lately and Saturday was a long day for both of us, as Richard was at Ascot and I was at York, then we were both riding in the last race at Wolverhampton. I feel OK, I just feel sorry for my wife and kids. It's tougher on Richard than me.

"People don't really appreciate what he has to go through every day and you have got to have a lot of respect for him."

Tom Queally gave up the rest of his rides but was unhurt after being thrown from Certral in the paddock.

The filly got loose and had to be withdrawn. Clerk of the course Seamus Buckley reported: "He's OK, he's just relaxing at the moment and he might just need the day off tomorrow."

Hughes had even taken the measure of using his jumping licence to get himself a ride in the National Hunt jockeys' challenge, the Three Musketeers Trophy, but Zelos Diktator beat only one home.Meanwhile, Aidan O'Brien could send a four-strong team to the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs next month.

The Ballydoyle trainer will choose between the Mile or the Classic for Juddmonte International winner Rip Van Winkle while Fame And Glory will bid for better luck in the Turf after having little in running when fifth to Workforce in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Bright Horizon, winner of the Irish Cesarewitch, and Fillies' Mile runner-up Together are others being prepared for the trip to Kentucky.

"Rip Van Winkle could go for the Mile or the Classic at the Breeders Cup," explained O'Brien.

"Fame And Glory could go for the mile and a half Turf there whilst Bright Horizon would be a contender for the Marathon. Together could be one for the Fillies' Turf."