Pat Smullen confident Free Eagle can soar to new heights

Pat Smullen could not be happier with Free Eagle ahead of today’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes despite it being his first outing of the year.

Dermot Weld’s four-year-old has been ante-post favourite since betting opened following his third in the Champion Stakes at Ascot last October on what was just his fourth run.

While Smullen admits it is not ideal that he makes his reappearance in such a hot race, everything has gone well with his preparation since he bypassed the Tattersalls Gold Cup with a minor ailment.