'This lad is some flagbearer' - Adam Nicol hails winning machine Wise Eagle

Wednesday: Musselburgh

Adam Nicol lauded his "flagbearer" Wise Eagle after the five-year-old landed the Portobello Cup under Danny Tudhope to record an eighth win in 20 starts since joining the Northumberland trainer.

Nicol, who was the regular rider of Lady Buttons before his retirement, saddled his first runner in December 2020 and has five horses in training including Wise Eagle, who won six times last year after switching from Tom Clover's yard.

"We got him off [a rating of] 67 from Newmarket sales and he just kept winning which was fantastic," said Nicol.

"This season he won at Newcastle off a career-high mark and then he's just had to run in those more competitive handicaps and we've ran him in some good races like the Vase at Newcastle."

Wise Eagle's win in the feature 2m2f handicap took his earnings for The Seahouses Syndicate to more than £60,000, with Nicol adding: "They only paid 7,000gns for him and it was quite a big pot again today so he certainly doesn't owe them anything.

"He's actually the only horse who's won for me. This lad, for any trainer, is some flagbearer."

Attributing a change in scenery for turning Wise Eagle into a winning machine, Nicol said: "He went on the beach yesterday and goes up to Rose Dobbin's for fast work; we try to keep it varied.

"Rather than being in a big string and following on, a lot of the time he's out on his own. Little things like dogs chasing him on the beach keeps him on his toes!"

Harry's Hero (second left) kickstarts a double for Shane Gray in the opening 7f maidenCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Gray's day

Shane Gray struck with his only two rides on the card, first helping the Alice Haynes-trained Harry's Hero get off the mark in the 7f maiden before steering Keith Dalgleish's Dixiedoodledragon to success in the 5f nursery.

Dalgleish secured a double of his own when the Billy Garritty-ridden Breckland took the 7f handicap.

Results, replays and analysis

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