O'Grady & Heffernan combine to land Leopardstown opener

Edward O'Grady and Seamie Heffernan combined to win the first race of Leopardstown's Flat season when Ecureuil Secret landed the maiden for colts and geldings.

The Wootton Bassett newcomer, far from unfancied at 15/2 (from 12s in the morning) tracked the leaders and was fourth at halfway.

Switched to the inner by Heffernan early in the straight, the winner got a nice run through to lead over a furlong out. Thequietman looked a big threat early in the final furlong but could find no more from there as the Aidan J Ryan-owned winner went away to beat him by a length and a quarter with 4/9 favourite Autumn Winter well held back in third.

O'Grady commented: “He’d been working nicely and very kindly Joseph (O’Brien) allowed me do a bit of work with him after racing in Naas recently. The funny thing is himself and the second (Thequietman) worked together and they finished about the same way.

“Aidan asked me to buy him a horse at the breeze up sales. I couldn’t get one at Goresbridge as they were too expensive.

“This fellow was in a sale at Deauville in July. He was only five miles up the road from me and I went to see him and loved him. The stallion is on fire and it’s brilliant to have him.

“I thought I was buying a dual-purpose horse as he’s 16.3. He’s the only three-year-old that I have, and I have a few two-year-olds that I bred.

“It’s very exciting to buy something like that and I’d say that was a fair maiden. He has a great attitude, and the dream is still alive.”

Quotes fom Alan Magee