Promising Pair Deliver For Wings Of Eagles

Baratablet (5g Wings Of Eagles – Perfect Woman, by Blueprint) became Wings Of Eagles’ second winner in as many days when justifying favouritism in Thursday’s maiden hurdle at Hexham.

Nicky Richards’ charge had finished second on both his previous starts in a bumper and maiden hurdle, with both runs coming under Thursday’s rider Danny McMenamin. Racing in touch with the leaders from an early stage, he began to made headway from two out and led before the final flight. He kept on well to beat his more experienced rival by a length.

The promising five-year-old is owned by Jimmy Fyffe and was bred by Leonard Macmahon.

At Huntingdon the previous day, Driftwood Bounty (5g Wings Of Eagles – Driftaway, by Urban Ocean) made a winning return to action in the two-mile bumper.

Trained by David Killahena and Graeme McPherson for BDRSyndicates, he had made a promising debut in October, but had been absent since. Partnered by Nick Slatter on his second start, he raced towards the back of the field for much of the way and began to improve on the turn for home. Ridden approaching the two furlong marker, he led a furlong later and dug deep as the favourite rallied, prevailing by a neck on the line.

The winning rider later commented: “We fancied Driftwood Bounty as he finished off his race every well at Newcastle last time. He's worked well since and I gave him some time to get into his stride before coming home strong.”

Bred by M and F O’Connor, Driftwood Bounty hails from the first Irish crop of Wings Of Eagles, as does Baratablet.