Eagle's Flight lands maiden win for Halford and Whelan

Eagle’s Flight (10/3) won the Irish Racing Industry Fundraiser For Children’s Health Foundation Crumlin In Memory Of Pat Smullen Maiden (Div I) for trainer Michael Halford.

The Gleneagles colt tracked the leaders before coming through to hit the front a furlong out.

He ran on to thwart the 15/8 favourite Dances With Stars (still looked a bit green on just his second start) by three quarters of a length, with Lady Georgie (10/1) back in third place.

The winner, owned and bred by John Connaughton and a half-brother to five winners including the owner’s dual Group 3 winner Dunboyne Express, had been placed in two of his six starts since making his debut in July.

Winning rider Ronan Whelan said: “He deserved that. He's been improving, more so with time than anything.

“He's just been a big baby, mentally and physically. He ran a bit better than the bare form the last day.

“He won that well and was entitled to do it. I think he could be a better four-year-old and he'll have options on the turf.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson