Prickly very sharp in Kilbeggan

Prickly successfully gave weight away to all his rivals in the Kilbeggan Maiden Hurdle to take the spoils for Edward O'Grady and Andrew Lynch.

The five-year-old gelding certainly knows where the winning post is having clocked up three bumper victories in Tramore Limerick and Down Royal.

He travelled strongly under Lynch and cruised alongside Ballybryan before easing to the front on the home bend just before the second last.

He soon forged clear and once he popped the last he galloped on to win by nine and a half lengths in justifying 5/6 favouritism.

Ballybryan couldn't go with the winner from the penultimate flight but kept on for second at 6/1. Buckeye Shan (8/1) got a third-placed reward, a further three and three quarter lengths away.

Edward O'Grady said: "I thought the first time he jumped a little slow and he jumped better today.

"I was a little worried as he ran too free in Tramore and I was afraid this was a little too soon but he won very nicely.

"We'll probably go for a little handicap. I have no plans."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson