Beckett Tough as Rock Just Friends (9/4 this morning into 5/4) may have been the big mover for the Irish Stallion Owners European Breeders Fund Maiden Hurdle but Beckett Rock (as big as 6s in the morning into 7/2) had his supporters too, and the son of Presenting got the better of a tremendous duel up the straight with Booley Bay. Niall 'Slippers' Madden looked to be in trouble in the Michael O'Flynn silks when Beckett Rock got the last hurdle wrong, but he found plenty for pressure to prevail by a length and a half. There was a twelve length gap back to the third, Just Friends. Winning trainer, Mouse Morris said: "I'll give him a bit of a break and maybe go for something in Punchestown." (EM)
