Eagle Swoops For Guinness Gold

Eagle's Pass, third behind Farmer Brown in the Galway Hurdle on his last start, reverted to the Flat in great style to land the Guinness Gold Cup at Tralee.

Thomond O'Mara's five-year-old, who ran the race of his life at the Galway Festival, won by an astonishing 19 lengths in very testing conditions.

All afternoon the winning margins were exaggerated because of the heavy ground but none more so than for the 60,000 euro feature.

Tony Martin's Arc Bleu was all the rage beforehand and was sent off the 13-8 favourite in the hands of Kieren Fallon after winning at the Curragh on Irish Derby Day.

But he was never travelling with much fluency throughout the one-mile-six-furlong contest, whereas Wayne Lordan on Eagle's Pass (11-2) was always cantering.

Sheena Collins' Lucky Heroine took up the running half a mile out but could not go with the winner and the Collins family will be hoping they have better luck with Dandy Man in the Nunthorpe at York tomorrow. Arc Bleu plugged on for third.

However, despite the ease of his victory, O'Mara admitted he had reservations about the ground prior to the race.

'I couldn't see him handling the ground beforehand,' he said. 'He ran a great race in the Galway Hurdle and that was only his second run in a handicap over hurdles.

'Paddy Flood rode him that day and said he would have been a lot closer only he got a couple of bumps.

'The horse was in better form today than he was at Galway and he should come on a lot from that.'

Aldhaher Beebers (6-1) recovered from a disappointing show at Galway to win the feature race of the day over timber, the Lansdowne Real Estate EBF Novice Hurdle.

Maurice Phelan's charge seemed to relish racing on a much softer surface than that he encountered at Galway and he saw off the old timer Bothar Na by eight lengths.

The 11-8 favourite Jadanli fell when still in contention with less than half a mile to run, while Ballycullen Boy, looking for a confidence booster following a recent fall, finished third.

'That was a relief after he disappointed at Galway,' said Phelan.

'He will get a break now but he is tough and would have no problem getting three miles eventually.'

Jim Bolger continued his great season with a one-two in the paddypower.com Handicap.

The three-year-old Malande (10-1), partnered by Davy Moran, had 15 lengths to spare over the year older Via Scozia, ridden by Kevin Manning.

Racing over a mile and a half for the first time, the filly relished the extra distance.

'The step up in trip has really helped her,' said Bolger.

'She has an entry at the Curragh on Saturday and she will make a nice filly for next year. Hopefully, she will be as successful as her mother (Masnada) who won nine races.'

(C) PA Sport