Eagle Fang and Philip Enright© Photo Healy Racing
Naas' AM Transport Supporting Kill GAA Hurdle has produced four Fred Winter Hurdle winners from the past five renewals and today was won by Eagle Fang (9/4f), in Cheltenham festival-winning colours.
Today's race lost some of its significance with the withdrawal of off-feed morning favourite Lark In The Mornin but was won well by Eagle Fang, which chased leader Bright Legend before leading at the last and scoring by five lengths.
The race was jockey Philip Enright's 400th ride and 23rd winner this term and was combining with successful owner/trainer Bill Durkan for the first time.
Durkan, whose Anaglog's Daughter won Cheltenham's 1980 Arkle Chase, was represented by assistant Gary Bannon who said “we thought he would have won his maiden by now, but he’s bumped into a few smart horses. We freshened him up and came here and the Boodles has been the plan with him.
“He’s a lovely horse for the future and stepping up in trip he’ll be a nice horse next year. He’s tough, not your typical Flat horse and doesn’t do a whole pile at home.
“We’d like to see a bit of rain for Cheltenham, and he should get into the race now.”
Three of the past five winners of today's race — Band Of Outlaws, Aramax and Brazil, won the Boodles-sponsored Cheltenham race on their next respective starts while last year, Jazzy Matty added to that list despite finishing fourth in today's Naas race.
Paddy Power later cut Eagle Fang to 12/1, from 25s (non-runner no bet) for the Boodles Fred Winter Hurdle.
Quotes from Alan Magee
