Grand National runner-up Magic Of Light dies after giving birth to first foal

Magic Of Light, the mare who valiantly chased home Tiger Roll in the 2019 Randox Grand National, has tragically died after giving birth to her first foal by Crystal Ocean in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Hailed a "superstar mare" by trainer Jessica Harrington when officially retired last June, the 11-year-old was bought for €185,000 by County Cork-based Coolmara Stables at a record-breaking Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale last November.

Paddy Kennedy, who rode Magic Of Light to finish second as a 66-1 shot in the world's most famous race, paid tribute to the daughter of Flemensfirth, describing her as "an absolute warrior" following her death due to a haemorrhage.

Carrying the colours of Ann and Alan Potts, she won back-to-back runnings of the Grade 2 registered as the Warfield Mares' Hurdle at Ascot, as well as a hat-trick of comfortable Listed chase successes at Newbury from 2018 to 2020.

Magic Of Light: bought by Coolmara Stables for €185,000 last NovemberCredit: Pat Healy

In total she won on nine occasions, including a valuable mares' handicap chase at the 2018 Punchestown festival.

Kennedy told the Racing Post: "She was an absolute warrior. You could count on her to tough it out all the way to the line. She was campaigned similarly each season and never failed to deliver.

"Other mares might have a bit more class, but Magic Of Light was extremely tough and battled very well. I would have ridden her in plenty of her work and she wouldn't have set the place alight, but she knew the place to show her best was the track."

Kennedy added: "It was a very special day at Aintree. I had never ridden in the Grand National and Jessie had never had a runner in the race. It was unfortunate that she didn't win it and I look back now thinking of things I maybe could have done differently, but she gave us a great thrill."

Cathal Mariga of Coolmara Stables said Magic Of Light's legacy would live on through her only foal, with ambitions for the Crystal Ocean filly to eventually race on like her mother.

"She was a queen of a mare, really lovely," said Mariga. "She was one of the best mares we had and it's a shame that she wasn't here for long. She was a star to deal with and had the perfect temperament."

Mariga added: "We were hoping for a colt all the way along because we'd previously had 11 fillies out of 14 mares to foal, but we're delighted to have got a filly now to carry on the family. She's a lovely filly too and hopefully she'll race in our colours when she's older."

Having originally recorded a bumper victory in the colours of winning rider Kate Harrington, Magic Of Light earned over €500,000 in prize-money during her 36-race career.

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