Ed relishes the mud

Shantou Ed stepped up on two previous hurdle outings when taking the two-mile maiden in great style under Mark Walsh.

Walsh hardly had to move a muscle on the run-in as the 10/1 chance eased clear on the run-in to beat Halling’s Treaasure by nearly four lengths.

The 6/4 favourite Indian Icon was a further length and three quarters back in third. Pat Fahy’s charge was far from foot perfect with his jumping but made light of a blunder two out and another sloppy jump at the last to score easily.

Fahy said, “I always thought a bit of him. It took him a while to get his jumping together, and he disappointed in Navan. The ground was yielding there but it was actually quick and that’s more his conditions. He loves the soft ground.

“His first run in Listowel was a great run. In Naas he was travelling well but he slipped turning in and nearly came down. He’s very laid back and does everything very quietly.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson