It is rare enough for one to be overly impressed by a National Hunt horse in the summer, but Jessica Harrington’s Beachdale Lad was a rare exception at Kilbeggan last Monday night.

A hat-trick of early birdies took Padraig Harrington into the joint lead before the €6.5m Players Championship was halted by torrential rain in Florida today.

Ipswich manager George Burley today committed his long-term future to the club when he signed a new five-year contract.