FINIAN Maguire won the Amateur National at Punchestown on Sunday aboard Nine Graces and his only other ride on the track last weekend came in a six-furlong handicap on Newcastle’s all-weather track which he won as well.

We were curious as to how the 26-year-old came to be riding the Sam England-trained Sir Maxi at Newcastle last Friday night and he kindly filled us in.

“The jockeys’ agent Denis Linehan is a friend of mine. Denis used to work for Johnny Murtagh, as did Ben Lewis who is one of the owners of Sir Maxi. Ben was in touch with Denis who asked me if I would go over to ride in the race which was confined to amateurs.

“There was only one flight from Dublin to Newcastle and it was at 12 noon, so I was able to ride out three lots for my boss Barry Connell before I went to the airport. Ben Lewis collected me in Newcastle and the track is only 15 minutes away so I was there four hours before my race at 6.45pm.”

Sir Maxi was the 15/8 joint-favourite and only got home by a head from the other market leader. “He’s a bit tricky,” Finian reported. “Oisin Orr, Cam Hardie and Billy Garrity had ridden him before and they gave me advice. The trainer asked me to take him down to the start early and he planted himself behind the stalls. But once I took the hood off him at the last second he gave me a great spin and it all went to plan. It was great to get in front right on the line. I’ve had a couple of spins at Dundalk and I rode a winner over seven furlongs at Laytown but it was still an unusual experience for me.”

Finian’s flight home did not take off until 11.30pm and he was back home in Naas by 1.15am. He rode out as usual for Barry Connell on Saturday morning before heading to Ballindenisk point-to-point where he ended up clipping heels and coming down.

“I enjoy the points but it’s hard to get rides from the big stables because of my other commitments. I do a lot of schooling on the Curragh and that helps.”

He is delighted with his increased level of responsibility in the Connell yard. “Barry has given me a few spins in professional races. I rode William Munny to finish second in a maiden hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival and I was on Good Land in the Grade 1 novice chase at Limerick. It’s nice to get that vote of confidence and to know that Barry has faith in me. That’s why Sunday’s winner was a special one for me, to reward Barry with a nice winner. He’s been very good to me.”