Heck Thomas wins Leopardstown's opener

Trainer Noel Meade and stable jockey Paul Carberry combined to win the opening Leopardstown Club Summer Membership Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown today with Heck Thomas winning in the ownership of J.P. McManus.

Carberry moved the son of Oscar to the front before the final flight and the pair stayed on well for a two lengths win over Mount Beckham

Afterwards Meade stated "he could be a nice enough horse and is a chaser more than anything.

"It's late enough in the season to be winning a maiden and obviously he has to improve a lot to be anything special and we'll see what the handicapper does with him.

"He wants easy ground and wouldn't run on good; I'm looking at him more as a chaser for next season."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson