Tag Archive for: Clonmel

Ballybow books Cheltenham place with gritty Clonmel win

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Ballybow booked his Albert Bartlett ticket with victory in the Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel.

The six-year-old is out of a close relation of Hurricane Fly and after two second-placed point-to-point runs made his bumper debut at the beginning of the season.

He won that Sligo event but encountered some bad luck when making his hurdling bow next time at Fairyhouse, when he was badly hampered and lost a shoe before eventually finishing lame behind Ballygunner Castle.

He looked to have bounced back from that experience when second at Down Royal on his next outing, and at Naas last month he got off the mark at the third time of asking over hurdles when strolling to a nine-length victory.

Ballybow was the 5-6 favourite to add a Grade Three title to his CV at Clonmel, where he was ridden by Sam Ewing in a small field of three that included Ballygunner Castle.

Ballybow made the running and while Ballygunner Castle, trained by Willie Mullins, did rally in the closing stages but could not get by the winner and went down by half a length on the line.

Paddy Power cut Ballybow from 20-1 to 16-1 for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival as a result.

“To be honest if I was Sam, I’d have followed Ballygunner Castle instead of him following us, and pushed him along.

“They went no gallop. They quickened over the last two, but the one thing I do like about our horse, from the second-last to the line – even after the last – he dropped his head and showed a good attitude.

“We’ll go for the Albert Bartlett now. I think the race could suit him, and he could have an each-way chance in a race like that, with a lead, coming at a few horses.”

In the SIS Supporting Irish Racing Novice Handicap Chase won by Luminous Light the Eric McNamara-trained and Conor McNamara-ridden Mount Ferns, who finished sixth, was banned from running for 90 days.

The stewards found both trainer and jockey were in breach of Rule 212A(i) by “deliberately or recklessly causing or permitting a horse to run other than on its merits”.

Eric McNamara was fined €6000 while Conor McNamara was suspended for 40 days.

Funiculi Funicula makes an impression on debut for Mullins

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Funiculi Funicula looked a name to note in making a winning start for Willie Mullins in the Monroe Hurdle at Clonmel on Wednesday.

Runner-up on his only outing in France, the five-year-old went one better after 453 days off the track, with a 17-length victory from the front in the hands of Paul Townend, who was clearly impressed with the 4-7 favourite, who shortened markedly in the ante-post market on the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in the immediate aftermath.

“He’s a nice horse and on the form of the race in France he was entitled to do that,” he said.

“What he had been showing us at home was nice. I thought we went a good gallop for the ground and we were spread out the length of Clonmel.

“You are probably going quicker than you feel on him. Everything is very natural and very easy to him.

“We like him a lot and hopefully he has a bright future.”

Mullins and Townend were out of luck in the Munster Hurdle, as Beckett Rock profited from the jumping frailties of his two key rivals to claim top honours.

Five runners went to post for the two-mile-one-furlong contest, with the betting dominated by the Mullins-trained pair of Bunting and Got Glory at 5-6 and 2-1 respectively.

Bunting made much of the running before a mistake three from home saw Townend almost ejected from the saddle.

The six-time champion jockey did well to keep the partnership intact and he remained firmly in contention rounding the home turn, but Henry de Bromhead’s 5-1 shot Beckett Rock was travelling better in the hands of Rachael Blackmore.

Danny Mullins was producing Got Glory with a major challenge when she crashed out at the second-last, leaving Beckett Rock and Bunting to battle it out, and the former was always doing enough on the run-in to win the argument by three-quarters of a length.

Beckett Rock was a 15-length winner on his hurdling debut at Gowran Park in November 2023, but was well beaten on his return from over a year off the track at Punchestown last month.

De Bromhead said: “It was nice to see him step forward from his first run. He got a bit lost the last day.

“He got hurt after he won on debut at Gowran and Michael (O’Flynn, owner) has been really patient with him and it’s nice to see his patience being rewarded.

“He toughed it out there. Obviously things fell his way a little bit, but we’ll take it.”

Franciscan rocks for Mouse Morris at Clonmel

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Franciscan Rock claimed his second win in nine days for Mouse Morris with a determined display in the Jim Strang & Sons Kilsheelan (Peugeot) Hurdle at Clonmel.

Victorious in a Pertemps Qualifier at Punchestown last time out, the seven-year-old was an 11-4 shot to follow up in this conditions event under 5lb claimer Gavin Brouder.

Paul Nolan’s Sandor Clegane was the 7-4 favourite on his first appearance since finishing fourth behind Spillane’s Tower in a Grade One novice chase at the Punchestown Festival in the spring, a race in which the reopposing Three Card Brag finished third.

Sandor Clegane looked to be travelling best as the four-strong field rounded the turn for home, but Franciscan Rock’s superior race-fitness kicked in between the final two flights and a bold leap at the last sealed a three-and-a-half-length verdict.

“My horses weren’t right for six to 12 months, but hopefully have turned the corner now,” said Morris.

“I don’t know what it was, but they just weren’t finishing their races, although some weren’t any good. We had to clean out the whole place, changed water pots and did everything possible.

“Franciscan Rock had some good form and there were no slouches for today’s four-horse race – any of the four could have won.

“He is qualified for the Pertemps Final (at Cheltenham) but a lot of water has to flow under the bridge first. I’ll give him a break now.”

Willie and Patrick Mullins teamed up to win both divisions of the ClonmelRaces.ie (Q.R.) Maiden Hurdle, with C’Est Ta Chance’s victory followed by success for fellow Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned youngster Karafon.

C’est Ta Chance was an 8-13 favourite on his first outing since finishing fourth in the Aintree bumper in April and eventually stamped his class with a five-length triumph.

Patrick Mullins said: “This is usually a Bermuda triangle race for me and this horse just seemed to drop the bridle coming down the hill, but once I got daylight he hit another gear.

“I think he’ll improve plenty from it and hopefully he will make up into a graded horse.”

Karafon (7-4) was usurped as favourite for division two by his Jody Townend-ridden stablemate Karamoja (5-6), but the former – not seen since finishing fifth in a Grade Two at Leopardstown last Christmas – got the job done in fine style. Uhavemeinstitches made late gains to split the Mullins pair in second.

Mullins added: “He jumped brilliant, settled great and his form entitled him to do it like that.

“I couldn’t ride Karamoja for weight reasons and at home she would work as well as the winner, but Karafon has an extra season’s training with us under his belt. That is often worth a lot and Karamoja ran keen and will probably improve more from it.

“We think a lot of both horses and can step Karafon up in grade now.”

Pink In The Park upstages stablemate Allegorie De Vassy at Clonmel

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Pink In The Park was an impressive winner of the T.A. Morris Memorial Irish EBF Mares Chase at Clonmel for Willie and Danny Mullins.

The 11-2 chance was a good deal less fancied in the market than her stablemate Allegorie De Vassy, who was the 1-3 favourite for the Listed feature and the mount of Closutton number one Paul Townend.

However, the latter was undone by her less than fluent jumping, whereas Pink In The Park travelled well throughout and took up the lead approaching the last fence.

From there she stayed on resolutely to prevail by four lengths from Thomas Gibney’s Must Be Obeyed, with Allegorie De Vassy back in fourth when beaten 10 lengths.

“It was a good performance. She took on the geldings the last day (in the BetVictor Novice Chase) and while we were disappointed, she ran a respectable fourth,” said the winning rider.

“That probably sharpened her, she jumped great across the top and battled well at the finish.

“I didn’t think I’d be beating Allegorie, but you never know, especially with mares, and these races can often throw up funny results. She has had a good consistent summer and is going the right way.

“I won on her brother Mister Pink in Punchestown recently, they’re a good breed so people could be lining up for the next one.”

Pat Doyle’s Brave Fortune claimed his first win under rules in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle.

The five-year-old was a point-to-point winner in October last year but had yet to strike in five runs over hurdles prior to this.

He started as the even-money favourite under Jack Doyle and after encountering testing going previously he looked more at home on good to yielding and was a decisive five-and-a-half-length winner.

“I thought he was capable of doing that, but he has been disappointing,” the trainer said.

“He appreciates the ground and if the ground stays the way it is, we’ll look for the two-mile-four-furlong ‘winners’ of one’ race at Thurles in the coming weeks – two and a half plus is his trip.

“He is a lovely big horse who cost a lot of money and we were always hoping he’d do something like that.

“He will make a nice horse over fences and will go chasing in the spring but won’t run on winter ground.”

Elsewhere on the card it was Andrew Slattery’s Plains Indian who came out on top in the Clonmel Oil Service Station Handicap Hurdle, prevailing by two and a half lengths at 9-1 under Cian Quirke.

“I suppose he was the class horse in the race being a Listed winner and I know he has been disappointing but the ground was too soft for him all year,” said Willie Slattery, brother to Andrew.

“He had a good first run back this year and if he hadn’t run twice since on ground which was too hard, he’d have been favourite today. We think he is well handicapped on the Flat but can’t get the ground for him.

“We’ll try for another 0-140 handicap now and he could either go to Cheltenham later this month or to Leopardstown over Christmas.”

Saint Sam makes no mistake with Clonmel Oil opportunity

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Saint Sam made every step of the running to claim a comfortable victory in the Clonmel Oil Chase.

Willie Mullins’ seven-year-old was in good form throughout the summer, reverting to hurdles to win at Cork and then travelling over to Auteuil to take the Prix de l’Orleanais over two and a quarter miles.

He stepped up in trip and back into the chasing division at Clonmel, where he was the 6-4 favourite at Grade Two level under Paul Townend.

In a keen run he surged clear of the rest early on and stayed at the head of affairs, as victory never looked in doubt. The Joseph O’Brien-trained Solness briefly flattered, but it was Gordon Elliott’s Fil Dor who came closest to him, six and a half lengths back in second.

“He is a hardy bit of stuff, has his way of doing it and you’re a passenger on him, as much as anything,” said Townend.

“If you pull against him he ends up going faster and Brian Gleeson (racecourse presenter) summed it up well when he said “steered by…!

“I had a little look behind and was surprised he (Solness) was coming with me, but that doesn’t really affect my horse, as he is half-daft.

“In France the last day James Reveley (aboard runner-up Gallipoli) took me on very early in the race, but we were still going the same gallop. He is a big, strong horse so when he makes a mistake he just gallops away from it.

“He is so hard on himself, but there is fire in his belly and he is a great servant for those races.”

Fakir d’Oudairies part of two-pronged Clonmel attack from Joseph O’Brien

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Previous winner Fakir d’Oudairies and the hat-trick-seeking Solness give Joseph O’Brien a strong hand in the Clonmel Oil Chase on Thursday.

Four-time Grade One victor Fakir d’Oudairies claimed this Grade Two prize three years ago in the colours of JP McManus, the only winner in the past six runnings not trained by Willie Mullins.

The nine-year-old finished down the field on his most recent outing in the Kerry National at Listowel in late September, but given that was his first competitive appearance since February, O’Brien is expecting an improved performance in County Tipperary.

“The Kerry National was his first run back after a break on a tricky track. He won this race a few years ago and any rain that falls will be a help to him,” he said.

Stablemate Solness lines up seemingly at the top of his game, with a handicap chase victory at Listowel followed by a comfortable success in a three-runner conditions hurdle at Sligo last month.

O’Brien added: “We’re looking forward to running him, the drier the ground the better for him.

“He’s a versatile horse and consistent. Hopefully he can collect some prize-money.”

Having previously struck gold with the likes of Champagne Fever (2014), Kemboy (2018), Douvan (2019) and Allaho (2023), Mullins is this year represented by Saint Sam, who reverts to the chasing game after winning over hurdles at Auteuil last time out.

Gordon Elliott’s Fil Dor, the Tom Gibney-trained Bronn and Influential Lady from James Barcoe’s yard complete the line-up.

Search For Glory ends in Grade Three honours at Clonmel

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Search For Glory collected his third win of the season when taking the Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel.

The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding was already a Grade Three winner coming into the race having taken the Singletons Supervalu Stayers Novice Hurdle at Cork in December.

He was not the favourite for this Grade Three, however, and started at 5-4 under Jack Kennedy as Eddie and Patrick Harty’s Harvard Guy was at the head of the market at 8-11 in a field of three.

The early stages of the race were run at a canter and the contest eventually developed into a sprint, with Search For Glory easily able to pull away and triumph by four and a quarter lengths after showing some reluctance when making the running.

“He actually did it well in the end and just didn’t like being in front,” Kennedy said.

“Once he got to the top of the hill he didn’t mind coming back around this way, but going away from the bend had been tricky.

“I wouldn’t even say he is better going left-handed, he just didn’t enjoy making the running.

“It worked out OK as he was always going to pick up and he actually showed more gears today than he ever did.”

Allegorie De Vassy on the mark at Clonmel

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Allegorie De Vassy began her season with a win in the T.A. Morris Memorial Irish EBF Mares Chase, although she was made to work hard by stable companion Instit.

Sent off the 8-11 favourite, Willie Mullins’ Allegorie De Vassy made a mistake and the first and jumped the second very big before settling into a rhythm.

In the meantime Danny Mullins had Instit travelling well in front and and the pair were out to repeat their victory over their better-fancied stable companion at Fairyhouse in April.

Paul Townend began to get serious on the market leader two from home and was all out with a narrow advantage at the last, which she met on a long stride to seal the deal.

She ended up winning by two and a quarter lengths with Henry de Bromhead’s Maskada, winner of the Grand Annual, a little disappointing in fourth.

Townend said: “She ended off last year poorly and couldn’t have started better this year. There’s plenty to work on and I thought the two mares (Allegorie De Vassy and Instit) ran well, and the two will come on for it.

“On the whole, she’s a very good jumper, but for whatever reason she just gave the first a good clout and got careful for a fence or two. She was big after that for a couple but warmed up and when I needed her down the straight, she came through.

“She was beaten by a very good mare at Cheltenham (Impervious) and that probably left a mark for the rest of the season. She’s back now and we’re delighted with her.”

Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy tuned up for what they hope will be a fruitful two days at Down Royal with a double.

Farren Glory, thought good enough to make his hurdling debut in a Grade Two at Fairyhouse last April, put that experience to good use when making all the running in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle.

He beat fellow 13-8 joint-favourite Irish Panther by almost 10 lengths.

Kennedy said: “He jumped a bit big at a couple but I’m very happy with him overall. He was keen but I think he’ll settle in behind a couple of horses.

“He did plenty with me the whole way around but still picked up well and galloped to the line. He is a lovely horse and I was impressed with him.”

Stuzzikini (9-2) then cruised to success in the Clonmel Oil Service Station Handicap Hurdle, beating Kim Muir winner Angels Dawn by 31 lengths.

“To be honest, I was always happy. I got there plenty soon on him as he can pull up in front but there was nothing to bring me along any further,” said Kennedy.

“I thought he loved that ground and hopefully he can keep going the right way.”

Elliott then added a third winner as Rainbow Trail (4-1) took the concluding bumper under Josh Williamson, giving the young jockey is second winner.

Allaho back on course in Clonmel Oil contest

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Jumps fans are served up a midweek treat in Ireland on Thursday as one of the sport’s superstars makes his long-awaited return in the Clonmel Oil Chase.

Willie Mullins has landed seven of the last 10 editions of the Grade Two feature at Powerstown Park, with Champagne Fever (2014), Kemboy (2018) and Douvan (2019) among those on the roll of honour.

This year the champion trainer saddles two of the of declared runners, with Janidil joined by his long-absent and esteemed stablemate Allaho.

The Cheveley Park Stud-owned gelding was spectacular in winning back-to-back renewals of the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, pummelling his rivals by 12 and 14 lengths respectively, before successfully stepping up to three miles with a 14-length demolition job in the 2022 Punchestown Gold Cup.

He has not been seen in competitive action since the latter of those triumphs 19 months ago, but will nevertheless be a short price to dispatch of his three rivals in the hands of Paul Townend.

“Allaho has been fantastic for us, winning a couple of Ryanairs, a Punchestown Gold Cup and a John Durkan. It’s great to see him back and hopefully he can show us that he’s back to his best,” said Cheveley Park Stud director Richard Thompson.

“He’s nine turning 10 in January, he’s been one of the stalwarts from the bunch of jumps horses we bought and hopefully we’ll still have some good days with him.

Allaho before morning exercise at Willie Mullins’ yard
Allaho before morning exercise at Willie Mullins’ yard (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

“He’s been off the track since April 2022, a good year and a half, so it will be fascinating to see him back and we’ll see how he gets on.

“Before he got injured last season we hoped he might be a three-time winner of the Ryanair and hopefully still can be.”

The biggest threat to the Mullins pair is French Dynamite, who bids to provide Mouse Morris with another big-race win following Gentlemansgame’s victory in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby on Saturday.

Morris said: “He’ll probably take the run and it would be hard to think we’ll beat Allaho, but it’s a good place to start and it will put him right for wherever we want to go afterwards.”

John Ryan’s outsider Grange Walk completes the quartet.

Testing ground guaranteed, but Doncaster hopeful for weekend

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Storm Babet continues to hit racing fixtures in Britain and Ireland but the forecast is less daunting for the major meetings scheduled to take place later this week.

The ground at Doncaster was described as heavy, waterlogged in places on Tuesday afternoon, ahead of the Futurity Trophy weekend cards on Friday and Saturday.

However, the recent rain is expected to ease off at the South Yorkshire track, which is set to stage the final Group One contest of the season with Saturday’s Kameko Futurity Trophy Stakes.

Clerk of the course Paul Barker said: “We’ve had around 7mm today, which has taken us to heavy ground and it is just a bit waterlogged around the mile shoot, so we are seeing if we can do anything about that.

“But the forecast is for things to improve later on this evening and then stay relatively dry until Thursday morning, when it should just be a case of getting a few showers, rather than the heavy stuff we’ve had since the weekend.

“So, once we get through today, hopefully everything will get a bit more manageable right through the rest of the week and we can start to put a plan together for Friday and Saturday.

“At least Friday’s entries were made after Saturday’s deluge and the Futurity is historically run on testing ground, so everyone who is planning to have runners are aware of what to expect.

“Other than that, all we can do is take it one day at a time and try our best to keep on top of everything.”

Cheltenham have no issues prior to kicking off their new season with The Showcase meeting on Friday and Saturday, when Grand National hero Corach Rambler and dual Stayers’ Hurdle winner Flooring Porter could return to action.

“It’s really exciting to get going again and we’re in great shape,” clerk of the course Jon Pullin told Racing TV. “We’ve had a really beneficial summer from our point of view and the turf manager’s point of view.

“Whilst we’ve seen significant rain, which did cause some problems around areas of the site, fortunately the track took it really, really well. We’re in a good position.

“It’s currently good to soft in the main and the forecast is for little bits of rain between now and racing, so I’d envisage that staying the same.”

Newbury are also scheduled to race on Friday and Saturday, with a couple of Group Three events on the second of those cards – the Horris Hill Stakes and the St Simon Stakes.

The Berkshire track is described as heavy, soft in places, with the warning that it will not be able to take substantial rain.

The forecast is for another downpour tonight to be followed by a mixture of sunshine and showers.

Clerk of the course George Hill said: “The bulk of the rain should be tonight but then it’s a variable forecast. It could be anything from 5mm to 10 or 15, or even an inch of rain.

“If we’re talking those higher kind of quantities over a 24-hour period, we’d be very much up against it, but the track is in good shape for this time of year and we’ll just have to hope for the best and see what we get.”

Tuesday’s meeting at Yarmouth and the Wednesday card at the Curragh were the latest casualties of Storm Babet and a sustained spell of heavy rain.

That followed last Saturday’s scheduled meetings at Stratford and Market Rasen being lost to the weather, along with Wednesday’s Worcester card and four upcoming fixtures at Southwell.

Storm Babet continues to cause havoc

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Storm Babet continues to affect racing in Britain and Ireland, with this afternoon’s meeting at Yarmouth and tomorrow’s card at the Curragh the latest casualties.

There are also now inspections planned at Fontwell ahead of tomorrow’s fixture and at Clonmel for Thursday.

Yarmouth were forced to abandon their seven-race Flat card after an early-morning inspection, as “considerable rainfall overnight” left the track waterlogged.

Officials at the Curragh have cancelled Wednesday’s meeting following 21mm of rain last night, with the course currently unfit for racing and facing an unfavourable weather forecast.

Clerk of the course Brendan Sheridan said: “The forecast is for a further 5mm of rain today with the possibility of more rain moving in tomorrow, so there was no prospect of the situation improving here prior to racing.

“We’ve had a total of 77mm in the last week and the ground has been heavy since entries closed last Thursday.”

Fontwell have called a precautionary inspection for tomorrow morning at 7.30am.

The going is currently described as soft, good to soft in places, but “further significant rain” is expected this evening and early on Wednesday.

At Clonmel, the ground is heavy but currently fit for action ahead of racing on Thursday.

However, clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer reported: “Having spoken with Met Eireann, there is the possibility of a further 5-10mm of rain and some spot flooding tomorrow afternoon which will be on top of the 54mm of rain the track has had in the last week.

“With that additional rain forecast for tomorrow, we felt it was prudent to let people know as early as possible that we will need to have a precautionary inspection at 7.30am on Thursday morning.”

Last Saturday’s scheduled meetings at Stratford and Market Rasen were lost to the weather, along with Wednesday’s Worcester card and four upcoming fixtures at Southwell.

Monty’s Star shines in one-two for De Bromhead in Clonmel feature

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Henry de Bromhead enjoyed a one-two in the Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel, as Monty’s Star booked his Cheltenham ticket in claiming a first career victory ahead of better-fancied stablemate Hiddenvalley Lake.

Monty’s Star had finished second in a Navan maiden on his jumping debut last month, subsequently coming into the Clonmel Grade Three as a 7-1 chance under Sean Flanagan with Hiddenvalley Lake the 8-13 favourite.

Under Rachael Blackmore Hiddenvalley Lake led at a canter as Monty’s Star stayed in his slipstream until the field turned for home.

The pair then locked horns over the final two flights, with Monty’s Star winning the battle to discard his maiden tag in prevailing by half a length on the line, giving Flanagan a second winner back since his return from a back injury suffered in a heavy fall at Thurles in October.

“I’m delighted with that and Sean gave him a great ride. He has taken a long time, he is a big, big horse and ran really well in his maiden hurdle at Navan when he was a bit green,” De Bromhead said.

“He had done a season with Colin Bowe (point-to-point handler), but is so big and raw. He has just taken all this time, it is amazing, so you’d hope he will continue to improve and he has the size and scope of a chaser. He has the pedigree as well (a half-brother to Gold Cup winner Monalee, in the same Barry Maloney colours).

“We tried this race in the past with (Minella) Indo and Monalee so we said we’d give it a go to see would he stay and he duly did. He is in the Albert Bartlett and that’s where we’re going now.”

Of his other runner he added: “I think Hiddenvalley Lake ran well but struggled on the ground, which is tough, and he’ll be better for better ground. He was also giving away weight.

“He is also in the Albert Bartlett and is entitled to go, but we’ll see what everyone wants to do. Indo was beaten by Allaho in this race a few years ago so it is a good race.”

Festival hope Hiddenvalley Lake bids to book Albert Bartlett ticket

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Leading Cheltenham Festival contender Hiddenvalley Lake follows a tried and tested route for Henry de Bromhead in the Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel on Thursday.

The Knockeen handler first claimed the Grade Three prize in 2017 with the top-class Monalee before he went on to finish second to Penhill in the Albert Bartlett the following month.

De Bromhead made it back-to-back wins at Clonmel 12 months later with Chris’s Dream, while in 2019 his subsequent Gold Cup hero Minella Indo filled the runner-up spot behind Allaho before reversing that form to strike Festival gold.

Shantreusse was unable to make an impact in the Albert Bartlett after scoring at Clonmel last season, but hopes are high Hiddenvalley Lake can cement his claims for the showpiece meeting by making it three from three over hurdles.

“He’s a lovely horse and we’re looking forward to running him in Clonmel,” said De Bromhead.

“He won well in Cork and looks a real stayer.”

Hiddenvalley Lake was a £200,000 purchase for owners Robcour after being carried out on his sole appearance in the point-to-point sphere.

He made a winning debut under rules at Naas in November before successfully stepping up in class and distance to lift a Grade Three prize over three miles at Cork the following month.

The son of Sholokhov is the 4-1 favourite with Sky Bet for the Albert Bartlett ahead of his attempt to give weight and a beating to seven rivals in County Tipperary.

Willie Mullins has a good record in Thursday's Clonmel feature
Willie Mullins has a good record in Thursday’s Clonmel feature (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

His biggest threat appears to be Corbetts Cross, who makes his first appearance for Emmet Mullins after winning a point-to-point, a bumper and two novice hurdles for Eugene O’Sullivan.

De Bromhead has a second string to his bow in the form of Monty’s Star, while Willie Mullins – whose seven previous winners of the race include three subsequent Festival winners in Cooldine (2008), Don Poli (2014) and Allaho – relies on recent Cork winner Walk In The Brise.

Search For Glory (Gordon Elliott), Granny Lowrie (Pat Doyle), Kalanisi Dubh (Seamus Fahey) and Farceur De Sivola (John Ryan) complete the field.

All very straightforward for Gaelic Warrior at Clonmel

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Gaelic Warrior set himself up for a potential crack at the Betfair Hurdle with an effortless win at Clonmel.

Given he was sent off the hugely prohibitive 1-14 favourite in the Munster Hurdle on a card transferred after being cancelled last week, he was only doing what was expected of him.

But having won by over 80 lengths on what was his Irish debut at Tramore in December, the Boodles Hurdle runner-up once again showed he possesses a big engine.

Bounced into an early advantage by Paul Townend, he never saw another rival and while stablemate Blue Sari made grounds to claim second, he was still 15 lengths in arrears.

He did jump out to his right on occasions, just as he did when beaten at Cheltenham, but he was so far clear it was an irrelevance.

The sponsors trimmed the Rich Ricci-owned winner into 3-1 from 11-2 for the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury as a result, a race for which he picked up a 5lb penalty.

As Gaelic Warrior is also still a novice, Coral cut him to 6-1 from 7s for the Ballymore at Cheltenham in March.

Townend said: “He was entitled to do it. We didn’t learn any more about him, but got more experience into him. He is a lovely horse.

“It is very hard work out there and he is hard enough on himself too but took breathers – the ground is proper testing.”

Regarding his tendency to jump right, he added: “I was trying to keep out to the outside (on better ground) but all the room was to the right, which was always going to happen.

“He does prefer to go right to correct himself but when he is racing and going about it, he straightens up. Hopefully he can make up for the disappointment at Cheltenham last year.”

Paul Townend with Night And Day
Paul Townend with Night And Day (Thomas Weekes/PA)

Mullins and Townend had already struck earlier on the card with another impressive odds-on winner Night And Day (2-5 favourite) in the Kilsheelan Mares Maiden Hurdle.

She is an 8-1 chance for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in March.

“She was doing nice work last year and was thrown in very deep (in a Fairyhouse Grade One) and she has a future, that’s for sure,” said Townend.

“The hurdles are nearly too small for her, with the size of her and she will even improve for a fence but has a future over hurdles first.”

Clonmel meeting on Thursday rescheduled to Tuesday

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Clonmel’s meeting on Thursday has been cancelled due to a waterlogged track and rearranged for Tuesday.

An inspection had been called for 7.30am on race day, however following further heavy rain on Wednesday an early decision was taken at 4pm.

The meeting – due to feature the exciting Gaelic Warrior – will now take place on January 17 with entries reopened until noon on January 12.

“Following 14mm of rain since our update this morning, Clonmel is now unfit for racing due to the track being waterlogged,” said clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer.

“There is a further 10mm of rain forecast between now and race time tomorrow.

“We have had more rain than we expected at this stage and with such an unfavourable forecast, we felt it was prudent to cancel the fixture at this point rather than wait until the time of the planned inspection with no real hope of prospects improving.”

Heavily backed for the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, Gaelic Warrior just missed out on what was his debut for Willie Mullins but returned at Tramore last month where he finished miles clear at long odds on.