Eagles swoops for claiming success Patience paid off with Spirit Of Eagles as she landed the optional claimer at Fairyhouse for trainer Thomas Dowling. The Gleneagles filly had been placed five times since joining the Naas-based handler and went to post an 11/1 shot in today’s six furlong contest. She came off a strong pace to launch her challenge on the far rail over a furlong from home, under Billy Lee, and gained the advantage in the closing stages to beat Profit Surge by three-part-of-a-length. “She’s just been an unlucky filly really. She’s a drop in sprinter and she always seems to find trouble,” said Dowling. “Everything went well today and the splits came when they should have. “We were going to run her in the handicap but I didn’t want her finding trouble on the way round so when there were a handful of runners in this we said we’d have a crack at it. “She should have won twice last season, she’s been unlucky all the way through, so it’s nice to get head in front. “If she’s not claimed she could come back up here, there are races here for her every week for the next three weeks.”
