Dougal tries to crest the hill again

Amongst his more familiar but less tactful friends, Donal Leahy is oft jokingly referred to as The Nearly Man. Mafi Magic and Two Excuses must accept their share of the blame for that.

In 2010, the former, owned by the Shamrock Bar Syndicate, Kilworth, reached the final of the Derby at Powerstown, where he found Adios Alonso too good on the day.

That was preceded by Two Excuses, which Leahy trained for his father, Liam, filling the same position in the Keen Laddie Stakes at the 2007 National Meeting.