City Slicker on top of the ground

You'll likely have plenty of future winners emerging from the opening Dobbins Food Hall Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown and today City Slicker (Ruby Walsh) was emphatically the pick of the bunch.

The J P McManus-owned, Willie Mullins-trained previously expensive to follow youngster, did everything smoothly here, except hitting the last when the race was 'in the bag' and he ended up going on to beat Asitsohappens by seven lengths.

Mullins said: "He's probably better going right-handed and he takes a good hold.

"They seemed to go some clip there.

"We'll let him go novice hurdling for the moment and this ground suits. He's probably not a real heavy ground horse." (AM & EM)