O'Leary/O'Connor gain compensation with Sea Eagle Ger O’Leary and Tom O’Connor, just denied earlier on the card with Borora Aura, gained compensation as Sea Eagle took the Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap Hurdle in impressive fashion at Punchestown. The Time Test gelding, a three-time winner on the Flat, was placed a couple of times in maiden hurdles and this switch to handicap company proved fruitful. The 5/1 chance, available at 11/1 this morning, asserted approaching the last and kept on strongly on the run-in to beat Sonny May by six lengths. Inver Bay was a neck further back in third. O’Leary said, “He's been knocking on the door for a while in maiden hurdles. Tom has done all the schooling on him. I'm delighted for Tom and the horse; they deserved to win a race. “We'll see what the handicapper does now. He was on his going day today, so I'm delighted.” Quotes by John O'Riordan
