HENRY de Bromhead continued his excellent run of big-race success as Monalee ran out an authoritative winner of the Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel.

The Knockeen-based trainer claimed Thyestes Chase glory with the Cheltenham Gold Cup-bound Champagne West last week, before enjoying a Grade 1 double at Leopardstown on Sunday with Irish Champion Hurdle hero Petit Mouchoir and Irish Arkle winner Some Plan.

Monalee, a winner on his hurdling debut at Punchestown, brought strong credentials to this Grade 3 contest, having chased home top-class novice Death Duty in December's Navan Novice Hurdle.

Rathnure Rebel took the six-strong field along for much of the three-mile journey, but Monalee was never too far off the pace in the hands of David Mullins. The 6/4 favourite hit the front rounding the home turn and although Battleford briefly threatened to make a race of it, De Bromhead's charge was ultimately well on top as he passed the post four and three-quarter lengths to the good.

The disappointment of the race was Turcagua, who having been held up by Ruby Walsh, failed to make any ground and was eventually pulled-up.

Mullins, who was in the saddle for Champagne West and Petit Mouchoir, said: "He's gone well in the ground, he jumped and travelled and did everything right. He made my life easy, anyway.

"He's fresh as daisy (after the race) and I think you'd go a long way to go to the bottom of this horse. His future is going to be over fences, but he'll be an exciting horse to go to Cheltenham with if they do. I'd say three miles would be ideal and he's got a serious engine."

De Bromhead said: "It was a really good performance and a super ride from David. I hoped he might do something like that - it was a competitive race and he did it really nicely.

"We think he wants better ground. He ran a savage race in a bumper at the Punchestown Festival last year. He's by Milan and is a good moving horse.

"He's entered in the Neptune and the Albert Bartlett, and we'll see nearer the time. The Albert Bartlett would look the obvious race, but there are a few things we need to consider - like Death Duty. He has a bit of class as well."

Paddy Power reacted by trimming Monalee to 12/1 from 20/1 for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle next month.

ADMIRABLE

The admirable Clarcam claimed the eighth win of his career in the Micro Dog ID Chase.

Gordon Elliott's seven-year-old ran 12 times last year and this was already his fourth appearance of 2017. Dropping in grade having finished ninth in the Thyestes Chase last week, the 6/5 favourite knuckled down to beat Val De Ferbet by two lengths under Jack Kennedy.

Elliott's assistant, Olly Murphy, said: "I'm a bit surprised as he hates the ground and he's had three quick runs. It's a credit to the horse and he is a dual Grade 1 winner.

"He was tough and I don't think anything went to plan but he's won another €11,000. He's in again on Sunday at Punchestown (Tied Cottage Chase) but he won't run. He's a tough little horse and I'm delighted to see him win."

Good Thyne Tara won like an odds-on favourite should in the opening Kilsheelan Mares Maiden Hurdle. A dual bumper winner for Willie Mullins and runner-up in a listed event in December, the 4/11 market leader cruised 10 lengths clear under a motionless Ruby Walsh to make a successful start to her career over jumps.

"She made a mistake at the first and she was a bit clumsy at the third but other than that she jumped well," said Walsh. "It's very heavy ground, although it's wet and loose and they went a really good gallop. She handled it better than the rest of them. It's a good start for her."

Ask Nile (9/4) continued the good start for favourite backers with a gutsy victory in the Surehaul Race Day Maiden Hurdle, seeing off the challenge of Moroval by two and a half lengths.

Samanntom (3/1) put in a fine display of jumping as he made all in the Derrygrath Novice Handicap Chase. Sent straight to the front by Mark Enright, Aidan Fogarty's nine-year-old was asked questions by Blazing West on the home straight but had all the answers to repel that rival by three lengths.

Knockraha King (12/1) and Rock On Barney pulled well clear of the rest in the Minorstown Handicap Hurdle as Adrian Maguire's charge showed a fine attitude to score by half a length, while Island Master (8/1) took the concluding Micro Dog ID Maiden Hunters Chase by two lengths from Clondaw Frisby.

READ THE FULL CLONMEL REPORT IN THE IRISH FIELD