Smullen hoping to soar like an Eagle

It was one of more bizarre moments of the year, an incident that left an asterisk on one of the biggest Flat races of 2015.

As Pat Smullen came to launch his challenge on Free Eagle in the closing stages of last month’s Irish Champion Stakes, leader Golden Horn suddenly lurched to his right and into the Dermot Weld horse.

It was a momentum killer for Free Eagle. Instead of a possible victory he had to settle for third behind Golden Horn and Found after the inevitable subsequent stewards’ inquiry went the way of the Epsom Derby winner.