Penny dropping with Eagle

What a loss to the breeding sheds was Jeremy, the sire of Our Conor who died at Garryrichard Stud back in September. One of his sons, Prussian Eagle could have a big future if his win in the Santa Train Bookings At www.gowranpark.ie 3-y-o Maiden Hurdle is anything to go by.

A maiden on the flat Charles O'Brien's gelding is obviously progressive over flights and on his third start at the winter game he struck under Mark Walsh.

This was despite the 8/1 shot being keen and making a mistake at the last but he still went on to defeat Willie Mullins' favourite, Buiseness Sivola by a length and a half.

There can be little doubt that we saw two decent three-year-olds here as they left Lady Clitico all of eighteen lengths back in third place.

"The penny is starting to drop. He was a little bit of a tear-away and he was awkward on the flat in that I wasn't able to work out what trip he wanted.

"He's growing up now and he handles that ground and he was race fit," explained O'Brien.

L.P. Dempsey, rider of Miss Gally Rio trained by W. McCreery, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount slipped up independently at the end of the back straight.

D.N. Russell, rider of Pershing (GB) trained by Robert Alan Hennessy, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount ran very free early in the race.

(AM & EM)