Prussian Eagle

Prussian Eagle ran a massive race to finish second to Next Bend in the one-mile-five-furlong handicap that concluded proceedings at Navan last Sunday.

As was the case with just about every winner on the day, Next Bend was prominent from early and hit the front early in the home straight, bagging the far rail from which there seemed to be a significant advantage at Navan on Sunday.

By contrast, Prussian Eagle was well back in the field early on.  He made ground early in the home straight, and he finished off his race really strongly, closing to within three lengths of the winner by the time they reached the winning line, and coming two lengths clear of Along The Shore in third, who was well clear of the remainder.  Prussian Eagle was just about the only horse to make significant ground in the home straight on the day away from the far rail.

A talented juvenile hurdler last season – he was third in the Grade 1 Spring Juveniles’ Hurdle at Leopardstown in February last year – Charles O’Brien’s horse could be well-handicapped on the flat now.  Second in a 12-furlong handicap at Gowran Park eight days previously on his first run on the flat since last August, Sunday’s run was a step up on that.  Rated 134 at his peak over hurdles, he was racing off a flat mark of 71 on Sunday. At his best with some cut in the ground, he was raised 2lb for Sunday’s performance, and there could be a staying handicap in him now off his new mark of 73.

17^th April 2016