Pat Eddery missed a winning ride in the race named in his honour on his final visit to Leicester yesterday, but he still received a tremendous send-off from race-goers and the racecourse executive.

The 11-times champion was serving the first day of a three-day suspension, otherwise he would have had the leg-up on Sylvester Kirk's Blue Trojan, who ran out a decisive winner of the Tom Fruit 'Pat Eddery Farewell' Handicap in the hands of deputy John Egan.

Kirk said: ''It is a pity Pat couldn't ride, but it is nice to have won his race and it could not have worked out better. And the racing club he has started has sent me a two-year-old, so hopefully I can train a winner for him.

''Blue Trojan did not run very well when we fancied him on the all-weather the other day, but we took a chance and came here and it has paid off. We might run him in a £15,000 race at Lingfield on Sunday now.''

Several presentations were made to Eddery, 51, including 155 bottles of champagne, one for every winner he rode at the Midlands course during his 36-year career. And as 'Grandad' was played over the public address system, he said: ''It is a fantastic send-off.

''It was a pity I was suspended, but I have been able to have a relaxing day and I am very grateful to the course for putting on a lunch for me.

''We have sent a colt by Mind Games to Sylvester and perhaps he might come here and win next year.''

Dane O'Neill had mixed fortunes when riding odds-on chances in the first two races, following up a defeat on Ela Paparouna with a win on the John Gosden-trained Unrivalled in the EBF Johnson & Hill Maiden Stakes.

It had looked plain sailing for Ela Paparouna approaching the final furlong in the Clinton Racing Ltd On Course Today Median Auction Maiden Fillies' Stakes, but in the end she was only third. Oasis Star stayed on well for Neil Callan to get on top in the last 50 yards.