Ecoeye springs surprise on handicap debut

Ecoeye put his last two efforts well behind him as he got up close home to win the George Fitzmaurice Handicap under Connor King for Austin Leahy.

Making his debut in handicap company the son of Echo Of Light was sent off at 16/1 after finishing last at Clonmel on his most recent outing.

Drawn on the rail he was settled in mid-division and was a close fifth turning into the straight.

He was ridden in third from the furlong pole and soon came with his challenge, hitting the front close home before going on to beat Bob's The Business by a length and half.

The runner-up was 6/1 last night but ended up at 7/2 under Shane Foley for Jessica Harrington. No Way Jack was sent off the well-backed 3/1 favourite (from 6/1 this morning and from 4's on-course) and he finished third, a further half a length back under Niall McCullagh for Pat Martin.

Austin Leahy said afterwards: "His first run was great but he ran at Dundalk and Clonmel then and ran awful but those races were over a mile and a quarter.

"Maybe it was a weak race but I'm glad he won and he'll go for another handicap now.

"He hung a bit in the straight but handled the ground - it's not quite heavy, I'd call it soft having walked it."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes