Eagles Reign leads Pinot Gris over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Tom Harney registered the biggest win of his fledgling career when guiding Eagles Reign to victory in the feature at Listowel this afternoon, the Liam Healy Memorial Lartigue Hurdle.
Second when 80/1 in the Boodles at Cheltenham in March, the Ross O'Sullivan-trained bay was down the field when given a pipe-opener on the level at Navan last month.
Returned a 6/1 chance this afternoon, the Gleneagles gelding was always prominent, improving to the front after three out.
Not fluent and ridden away from the next, the Tommy Ward owned victor found more when pressed on the run-in, holding off the effort of Pinot Gris by three quarters of a length.
The runner-up was returned the 9/4 favourite (13/2 early) under Conor Stone-Walsh for Gavin Cromwell, while Bright Legend (12/1) was a further five-lengths away in third.
"The plan has been to come back for this race and we wanted a prep run so gave him a run on the Flat three weeks ago to open the pipes," O'Sullivan commented.
"It was in the lap of the gods whether he would get his ground or not, as he grows a leg on soft ground. When the rain started yesterday, it didn't stop and you couldn't write it better.
"He ran a great race in Cheltenham and after running flat in Aintree, Tommy suggested the Lartigue and it made sense."
He added: "You wouldn't even thank the horse for doing a piece of work because he can't go and is the worst work horse you could ever meet in your life!
"Lads would get excited when they said they worked with Eagles Reign but he is rated so low on the Flat for a reason. When he gets on soft ground over jumps, he is just a different horse.
"It is great to have him and great to have Tommy who has been with us since day one and is a great man.
"Tom is my head lad as much as he rides the horses and his 7lb off the horse is great and you wouldn't get a better worker. He deserves everything he gets."
STEWARDS REPORTS
The Raceday Stewards fined Declan Queally, trainer E65 for failing to fit the declared hood to Oh So Charming (GB), prior to entering the parade ring.
Sam Ewing, rider of Kimy (FR), trained by Thomas Mullins, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount stopped quickly and was subsequently pulled up.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
