Griffin wins opener

The opening race this afternoon at Fairyhouse was won by the Eoin Griffin trained Academy Sir Harry with Paddy Flood riding for owner James Comerford.

Flood raced his mount in behind the leaders and improved to challenge 2 out and had to battle all the way to the line with Dessie Hughes' Ten Fires ridden by Roger Loughran.

Eoin Griffin said, "I wasn't really expecting to collect today, the penny hasn't really dropped with him yet. He is still a bit of a novice in his jumping but he has a good engine and he's a very nice horse. We were worried about the ground and he also pulled off a front shoe. There's plenty of improvement to come in him and we will enter him in the Royal Bond but he will have to have another run in between."