Mala Beach toughs it out

Mala Beach (12/1) wore down front-running Defy Logic after the last to win by a head at the end of two and a half attritional miles at Fairyhouse in the Grade 2 novice hurdle.

Tony McCoy was on board the 11/8 favourite Defy Logic and set out to make all on Paul Nolan’s charge. He kept up a relentless gallop and was well clear, but coming to the last Defy Logic visibly tired as Mala Beach got on terms.

The pair fought it out after the last, but Mala Beach kept gun barrel straight and stuck his head out for the line.

Winning jockey Davy Condon said: “The ground is very testing. We went a real good gallop. My fella stays well. I thought over the third last he had a bit left.

“A great jump at the last sealed it. Hopefully he’ll be a good novice chaser.”

Trainer Gordon Elliott added: “He’s a nice horse and a big three mile chaser. He was flat out there from the third last.

“That’s it for the year. He’s a smashing horse to go over fences next year. It was a good performance as the second horse got a bit of a freebie.

“He’d go on any ground, but on softer ground he is more effective.”

This win gave Gordon Elliott an across the card double after Bayan won the opener in Cork.

Only six of the 10 runners completed the course. Pride Of The Parish who fell and brought down Anonis both sustained life-ending injuries.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson