CAVE Court (8/11 favourite) arrived in Clonmel in search of a four-timer for Noel Kelly and he found it with ease, always travelling smoothly for Oran McGill before going right away from his rivals for a bloodless success in the Tickincor Handicap Chase.

The TSM Racing Syndicate-owned six-year-old was 6lb well in after his impressive win at Listowel last week but he’d have won off double that here and now could have a very nice opportunity back over hurdles to get to five in-a-row.

“He was lovely and that’s my third win on him,” said the winning rider. “We wanted the ground to dry up and it ended up being much the same as it was in Listowel. He enjoyed it and was no bother to him.

“He was very babyish when he started off and was very green but the penny has started to drop and is improving. Hopefully he will keep going now.”

The opening Kilmore Maiden Hurdle featured a smooth victory for Paul Nolan’s Conyers Hill (9/4 favourite), much to the delight of a 20-strong, Wexford-based Buzzer Racing Syndicate who could clearly be heard in the stands.

Confident

The five-year-old gelding was held up in the two-mile-one-furlong contest and though he still had a wall of horses in front of him on the run to the second last, his rider Sean O’Keeffe always looked confident and the pair went away for a comfortable eight-length score.

“The race was for horses rated 109 or less but he won it handy and jumped well,” said Nolan. “Dropping him out cold and settling him is probably the way to ride him.

“He works very well and while his work hasn’t materialised, he showed up today. He has savage scope for eventually jumping fences but will stay over hurdles for the winter.

JOHN Queally enjoyed a fine day as Constanuci (16/5 favourite) and Jet Setting Jim (5/1) gave him a double on the card.

Constanuci kicked off proceedings for her Waterford trainer by making it two wins in as many starts when she came through late on the stands’ side for rider Neil Ryan to claim the two-and-a-half-mile Clonmel Mares Handicap Hurdle.

The Kieran McHugh-owned mare was comfortably defying an 8lb rise for her recent win at Listowel, and did so with a notably smart jump at the last helping her to deal with the challenge of Stormalong.

“She is a progressive mare and the ground was a lot better than I thought it would be and that was a big help to her - it is beautiful jumping ground,” said Queally.

“We’ll run her once more and give her a break as she has been busy all year. She has got strong this year and will jump a fence maybe after Christmas. She got 8lb for winning at Listowel so I wanted to claim off her and Neil (Ryan), who is with Noel Meade, came well recommended.”

No one was more delighted with Queally’s second winner, Jet Setting Jim in the closing Clonmel INH Flat race, than owner Finbarr Walsh.

The six-year-old raced in second for John Gleeson, claimed the leader Noble Talent in the straight and then held off the sustained challenge of the favourite Royal Hollow.

“He is a chaser and it was a bonus to win a bumper,” Queally said. “It probably wasn’t the strongest of contests but he’ll get a break now and go chasing in the spring.

Owner Walsh added: “I’m from Riverstick in Cork and had a winner at Fairyhouse in 2000 with Charlie Swan but it got thrown out. This is my first winner and I’m delighted!”

The step up to three miles was identified as a big help to Brianna Lily (5/1), who was a comfortable seven-and-a-half-length winner of the Clonmel Handicap Hurdle for Patrick Foley and in-form rider Mark McDonagh.

The Dunne In Trim Syndicate-owned six-year-old mare had won her bumper at this track and was making it third time lucky in handicap hurdles. She travelled well in behind the long-time leader Close Enough and once she overtook that rival early in the straight, she built up an unassailable lead.

“She has always been a good jumper but has been slow to come to hand although cheekpieces have made a big difference to her,” said Foley. “The step up in trip was also a big help but she is better going left-handed. She hung badly in a maiden hurdle at Limerick once but as long as you leave her alone, she is fine.”

THE Short Go (10/11 favourite) was well backed for the feature Irish Stallion Farms EBF Captain Christy Rated Novice Chase and he duly delivered for Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead.

Noel Byrne’s gelding sat just off a sedate pace set by Iridescent in the three-mile contest and though headed by the hat-trick seeking Bella Bliss in between the final two fences, Blackmore always looked content, and the pair took advantage of that rival’s mistake at the last to win cosily.

“I’m delighted for the Byrnes’ as we chose not to go to Listowel last week because of the ground,” said de Bromhead. “We ended up here and while it wasn’t ideal for him, he handled it well.

“He was keen early but Rachael was very keen to hold him up, as he ran so blind in Galway. Once they went on a bit he jumped great and she was brilliant on him. It was lovely to see him pick up after the last.”

Starman (4/1) was a smooth winner of Slievenamon Claiming Hurdle, travelling strongly through the two-and-a-half-mile contest for James O’Sullivan before pulling eight lengths clear of favourite Bal De Rio on the run-in.

Declan Queally’s gelding took full advantage of the opportunity presented to him via the weights given his lower claiming price of €5,000, which was met by owner/trainer Anthony McCann.

The fourth placed Rotten Row was also claimed at €15,000 by Jerry McGrath and will now go into training with Gary Hanmer while the fifth Coole Avenue was claimed by David O’Sullivan at €5,000 and will go into training with Charles Coakley.