Bigger targets ahead for Beacon Edge after easy win

The Marlin Hotel Dublin Supporting The National Breast Cancer Institute Hurdle (Grade 3) was very steadily-run with the 10/11 favourite Beacon Edge keeping tabs on Minella Melody (13/8) throughout at the head of affairs.

When the pace eventually picked up, the market leader eased clear racing to the last and wasn’t at all extended to win by four and three quarter lengths.

The Doyen gelding had race fitness on his side having won at Downpatrick earlier in the month, and had gone very close in a Grade Two novice hurdle at Naas back in March.

This was a fourth career win for Sean Flanagan’s mount who started out with Nicky Richards across the water.

Winning trainer Noel Meade said: "From the first day he arrived in the yard we’ve just loved him.

“Michael and Eddie (O’Leary) thought he should stay over hurdles and I was happy to agree. He’s more than justified the decision now.

“The Hatton’s Grace looks the obvious race for him and we’ll see how it’ll work.

“They didn’t go much of a gallop there but Sean said he was cantering at all stages.”

The Tu Va handler also reported his earlier faller Diol Ker was none the worse - “He seems okay and Sean said he was just too fresh.

“With the whole Covid thing we hadn’t got him away. Ideally we’d have brought him to Navan or somewhere for a school.”

Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy