BANBRIDGE’s Sarah Dawson was the first of three Northern trainers to saddle a winner at Down Royal’s St Stephen’s Day meeting and did so in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle with the 2015 Born To Sea gelding Magic Sea whose only previous success had come in a seven-furlong nursery at the Co Down track in September 2017.

On the first occasion the bay, then a colt, was owned by a partnership of Sarah’s husband, Dr Joe Dawson and Peter Passmore who have since been joined by Bob McCoubrey. A half-brother to the listed-placed, 10-time winner Magic City (by Elusive City), Magic Sea was purchased by his trainer at Tattersalls Ireland’s 2016 September Yearling Sale.