Eiri Na Casca gained compensation at Ballinrobe this afternoon after a somewhat unlucky run on his last visit to the course.

Denis Hogan 's charge just failed to peg back Kilganer Queen over course and distance last month after coming wide and late.

He made no mistake this time as he crept closer going to the last flight after being held up. Granny Biddy looked to have things under control early in the straight but Eiri Na Casca stuck to his task well and wore down the 2/1 favourite close home for a neck success.

It was a double on the card for the trainer/jockey following the opening race victory of Foxy Lass and he said:-

“He should have won here the last day.

“He done something similar to what he done at the last there.

“At the third last here the last day I was five lengths last and I thought my chance had totally gone.

“I wheeled him out to the outside — he gathered them up quick — it was just too much of an ask but it was some run though.

“The handicapper gave him four for it and again at the last here — it’s just that he’s a chaser — he ballooned it.

“That’s why he’s never won a hurdle. If you ask him to go and wing a hurdle he puts in another stride.

“He never has a good cut at a hurdle. I actually fell off him one day from asking him like that — I dislocated my shoulder off him actually in Roscommon one day.

“He’s a lovely big horse. It’s great for the owner, Adrian McNamara. He’s away on holidays and so are the family. He couldn’t be here but he backed him anyway.”

(Quotes by Eamonn Murphy)