Beachdale Lad opens account under rules Beachdale Lad, a point-to-point winner at Athlacca last year and runner-up on his previous two hurdle outings, came good in no uncertain terms when readily landing the three-mile Friday July 13 BBQ Maiden Hurdle. Tommy Treacy’s mount was far from fluent in his jumping but has an engine, and the 9/4 favourite asserted early in the straight before galloping on strongly to beat Wandering Aengus (12/1) by a comfortable three and three quarter lengths. Stormy Oscar (14/1) completed the placings a further four and a half lengths back in third. Winning trainer Jessica Harrington said, “He deserves that and did it the hard way. His jumping was really down to lack of concentration as upsides he jumped great but on his own he was looking at everything. “He needs good ground and ran into two of Willie(Mullins)’s on his last two runs. He was very good there, and will wait a year before going chasing as he’s only five.” The race was marred by a fatal fall to Flemingo Domingo, with rider Andrew Lynch taken to hospital for xrays on a suspected broken femur. (Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
