MALA BEACH returned to winning ways as the centrepiece of Gordon Elliott’s treble at Down Royal’s rescheduled fixture from St Patrick’s Day.

The 10-year-old gelding was last seen being pulled up in the Grade 1 Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown last month but appreciated this drop in class.

He faced three rivals in the Daily Mirror Steeplechase including his full-sister Bonny Kate, who led throughout. Mala Beach, the 4/9 favourite, raced in rear under Davy Russell before making good headway to get on terms with the leader at the third last.

He soon eased away from Bonny Kate to win with plenty in hand by nine and a half lengths for owner Chris Jones who was in attendance.

Elliott said: “It looked an ideal race to go for. Conditions suited him so it was the right race to go for. The farther he got the better he jumped. That could be it for the year unless Punchestown came up very soft. He’ll not go to Fairyhouse.”

DOUBLE

Russell was also aboard Icario (13/8) who got off the mark at the 17th time of asking in the Guinness Maiden Hurdle.

Gigginstown’s Icario was left in the lead when Itsalonglongroad fell at the second last. From there, he stayed on well to post a victory by three and three-quarter lengths.

“He’s been trying a long time so he deserves that. I’d say he’ll go chasing,” Elliott said of the five-year-old gelding who had been placed nine times before.

Gigginstown’s Tintangle brought up Elliott’s treble in the Bet With The Tote Mares’ Flat Race as Lisa O’Neill steered her home. The Yeats mare went off 8/11 favourite on the back of her sole start, when fourth in a Grade 2 mares’ bumper at Leopardstown that was won by subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Relegate.

She ran keenly early on but was always close-up before hitting the front over six furlongs from home. She asserted in the final furlong to come in nicely clear by five and a half lengths.

Elliott commented afterwards: “She’s a nice mare and a mare for next year. She’s a big backward mare but she will be okay. She’ll come on a lot from that and she’ll be a big chaser.”

FIRST WINNER

It was a day to remember for trainer Christian Delcros who saddled his first winner with Rossmore’s Pride (5/1) in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle. Simon Torrens secured his first racecourse victory on David Slater’s lightly raced 10-year-old gelding.

The duo moved to the head of affairs at the penultimate flight and kept on well to prevail by two and a quarter lengths.

Delcros said: “He did it nicely; he’s not a horse that would enjoy that sort of ground. Now he’s going to go and jump a fence. He needs better ground.”

On his background, he added: “That’s my first winner, it took a long time! I took out the licence a year ago and we had a couple of horses placed.

“I came from France to Ireland and stayed in Ireland. I was a jockey in France and moved to Ireland in 1977 and I worked for (Paddy) ‘Darkie’ Prendergast.

“Then I went to Dessie Hughes when Dessie started off. I worked with him for 27 years. I rode for Dessie and did bits and pieces that could be done in a racing yard. I was head man there and left in 2010.

“We have seven horses in including a couple of young horses. We are just outside Donegal Town.”

DELIGHT

Crosshue Boy showed plenty of durability when winning his third race over fences in 10 days. Sean Doyle’s charge contested the Guinness Rated Novice Steeplechase for which he was a 5/2 shot.

He saw out the extended two-mile-three trip best of all by a length and a quarter for jockey Harley Dunne, to the delight of Doyle.

The handler said: “It’s been a massive week from Leopardstown Friday week ago to Wexford to here. We were lucky this was called off (on Saturday) as we couldn’t have run in two places on the one-day.

“Hopefully there will be a race in Aintree for him – it would be great to have a runner over there. It will be one of the novice chases – we’ll keep him a novice for the meantime. If that works out we’ll go on to Punchestown for something similar. Trip and ground aren’t a problem to him.

“Jumping is a big key to him and, in fairness, J.J. Slevin was brilliant on him in Leopardstown, but Harley does a lot of work, is closely related to Niall (Heffernan, owner) and he’s brilliant on him too. I usually only get three wins a year so I am ahead of my target!”

Trainer Tom Gibney enjoyed the trip back to Co Meath after his Young Paddymc delivered at 7/2 in the Daily Mirror Novice Handicap Hurdle.

The six-year-old son of Stowaway made virtually all for Jonathan Moore and was strong at the finish as he put four and a quarter lengths between himself and 9/4 favourite Benefit Of Magic.

Winning owners the Loughkiel Partnership are local to Gibney, who said: “It was a good, tough performance. He’s all about chasing that fellow. That was the plan from day one so it is lovely to get a hurdle with him before we go chasing with him next year.

“The plan was to make all as he looks like he wants every bit of three miles – two-six was never going to be a struggle anyway. He’s starting to get the hang of things.”

GROUND CONDITIONS

Eddies Miracle comfortably took the spoils in the Daily Mirror Hunters Steeplechase at 4/1 for handler David Christie.

Barry O’Neill, sporting the colours of bookmaker Ray Nicholas, brought him into contention after the third last and the pair were in charge after the penultimate fence.

O’Neill said of the five-length victor: “We always loved this fella. He was a little bit disappointing in a couple of runs but the two-three (trip) suited him because he travels very well and can quicken off that. He won it very nicely and onwards and upwards.

“We were confident but we were just a little bit worried about the ground because it is deep enough out there. He coped with it well and jumped well and won snugly.”

ACTING STEWARDS

R.S. Martin, J.F. Gillespie, R.W. Steele, J. Hunt, P.D. Matthews.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

EARTHIEST WORDS (P. Nolan): Kept on for third, on her debut, in what looked a decent bumper and didn’t go unbacked. The winner of that race looks a good sort.