The J.P. McManus owned and Eddie Harty trained Coney Island was the opening winner of Leopardstown's Christmas Festival this year when landing the Clayton Hotel Leopardstown Maiden Hurdle today, under jockey Mark Walsh.

The well backed (2/1 this morning in to 13/8 favourite) son of Flemensfirth had finished third and second on his two previous runs and today quickened well in the home straight for an easy win over 66/1 chance Improver

Harty later stated “he was entitled to be there or thereabouts on his last two runs. He's a nice horse and has improved his way up to here.

"Obviously we will have to step him up and see what he's made of. The ground is deep enough but its sloppy, and if we had a dry night it would be a different proposition."

Paddy Power subsequently introduced Coney Island at 20/1 for the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham.

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee