Eric best on return to the west

Twice in action at the Galway Festival including when runner-up in a handicap hurdle on the opening night, Eric The Grey (7/1 into 11/2) returned to western shores to land the David Heneghan Memorial Rated Race at Ballinrobe.

Just a length and a half covered the first four home here but it was the Billy Lee ridden Eric The Grey that was strongest in the closing stages as he came out on top by half a length from the always prominent Truly Delightful

Favourite, Newton's Night bidding to supply John Oxx and Declan McDonogh with a double after their opening race win with Marakoush didn't handle the turn into the straight as well as her rivals and ended up a further half a length back in third.

There was yet another half a length back to the slow starting Hannah's Magic in fourth.

"I have to thank the jockey for that one. Six or seven of them were rated all around the same and he got the best run around, it is all about getting the run around here," stated winning trainer Charlie Swan.

He added: "He couldn't have got a better passage the whole way. The splits came for him and everything came right for him.

"We have options for him now, he does stay and he will go back over hurdles at some

stage. It's grand to win a flat race with him anyway. He is alright on summer soft but he wouldn't want winter soft." (DM & EM)