Mala Beach a good young prospect

You've got to think that a lot of future winners will emerge from the Ryan's Cleaning Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown and today it was Mala Beach that was top of the pile under Davy Condon for Gordon Elliott (runner-up in the previous race, the Boylesports.com Hurdle with Rocky Wednesday .

Unfortunate when forced out through the rail here at Christmas, the successful Beneficial gelding (also on the mark with Benefficient earlier) beat the promising Foxrock by four lengths. City Slicker was the well-backed favourite here but he didn't get home after travelling well up the front. He faded to finish fourth.

"He's a proper horse and was unlucky the last day. I'm delighted Davy got the chance to ride him again and the horse showed what he's like," said Elliott.

"He loves soft ground and three miles and fences is what he wants. He's a nice horse.

"It's good to get a winner on a big day. We've had seconds in the three biggest handicaps of the year, the Paddy Power, the Thyestes and then today.

"I wish I had a couple more owners like Chris Jones. He's a brilliant man." (GC & EM)