Royal Eagle swoops to conquer under Gainford

Royal Eagle (18/1) was one for the books in the TheGalmont.com & Galwaybayhotel.com Novice Hurdle as 1/2 favourite HMS Seahorse proved disappointing in third.

Jordan Gainford got his mount jumping well in behind the leaders and moved into third place two out. Closing up on the outer entering the straight, the daughter of Free Eagle jumped the last in second where the front-running market leader reached for it and wasn’t fluent. Soon in front, the winner was ridden clear to beat Razdan by three lengths.

Royal Eagle was touched off in a 1m4f handicap at Dundalk on her previous start earlier in the month.

Winning trainer Gordon Elliott, whose better-fancied runner As Tears Go By was fourth, said: "It was great and Adam's (Lord, owner) two sons Adam and Jack have done a lot of work with her at home. One of the first horses I had in training Salford City, who Adam owned, got me going and it is nice to get another winner for him

"She had a low weight and I thought she'd run alright as she was getting a stone off the favourite and had a good run at Dundalk the last day. She liked the ground and jumped well.

"She will win on the flat and will mix between hurdles and the Flat and we'll think about the Lartigue Hurdle (Listowel in September) for her."

He added "Jack (Kennedy) said they went no gallop and it didn't suit As Tears Go By. That probably played into Jordan's (Gainford) hands as the winner had Flat speed."

Quotes from Tom Weekes