McGuinness doubles up with Eglish

Bottom-weight Eglish (6/1) built on a couple of placed efforts at the track before Christmas when taking the Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Apprentice Handicap.

There was plenty of pace on in this 7f contest, and Alan Persse was able to get a nice position behind the leaders before delivering a winning challenge on the daughter of Heeraat from over a furlong out.

She kept on to hold the running-on pair Bolly Bullet (5/1) and JM Barrie (9/2) by half a length and the same, while Donnacha O’Brien will have to wait just a little longer for his first winner as his 3/1 favourite Flower Garland looked in need of a longer trip as she finished fifth.

The winner, completing a quick double for trainer Ado McGuinness after Bowerman (10/3) in the fifth, had been third and second in two nurseries in the closing weeks of 2019.

“She had a great run here the last day and had a lovely light weight tonight,” said McGuinness.

“Alan did exactly as he was told and gave her great ride. I told him to sit in behind the leaders and he did that.

“She's inclined to be a bit keen sometimes but he settled her lovely and she picked up nicely.

“I have her in Wolverhampton on Wednesday and she could go there as I'm bringing a load of horses over there next week.

“If she's sound in the morning she could be on the bus.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson