LAST season’s Ballymore Novices Hurdle fourth Scarpeta was favoured by the conditions of the Jim Strang & Sons Kilsheelan (Peugeot) Hurdle at Clonmel on Thursday and Paul Townend’s mount duly read the script to make a winning return to action for the Willie Mullins yard and Thurloe Thoroughbreds Ireland Limited.

The 1/2 favourite needs tidy up his hurdling technique but still had sufficient left in the tank to beat Robbin’hannon by an eased down eight lengths.

Townend said: “We know he has an engine but he has a bit to work on with his jumping. It’s a sign of his engine that he was able to turn in on the bridle and you just have to take the hurdles as they come.

“He Jumped the last probably the best and can do it. He’ll have no bother getting three miles but he ran well over shorter distances last season as a novice and just has to brush up his jumping.”

Monatomic headed the betting for the Clonmel Racecourse Supporters Club Only €90 Beginners Chase and was still in front when fumbling at the final fence, handing the advantage to R’evelyn Pleasure, from the Sean O’Brien yard, who capitalised to the tune of three lengths in the hands of Donagh Meyler.

The 10/1 shot is owned by Mark McDonagh from Shannon and the Kilworth trainer observed: “I suppose really he came back to his hurdle win here. He had good form over hurdles and disappointed us on fast ground in Listowel which he just couldn’t handle. I thought, on his hurdles rating, he was over-priced.

“He was running a lovely race in Cork when he just made a novicey mistake but he was good today when he wanted one. That’s my first winner since my mother Eileen passed away and there’s a novice for him in Limerick at Christmas but it depends on the ground.”

Joseph O’Brien’s rich vein of form continued in the Clonmel Maiden Hurdle when Gigginstown’s easy to back 9/4 favourite Smoking Gun came out on top for championship leader Rachael Blackmore by three lengths from the long-time leader Makka Pakka.

The Gold Well five-year-old was close to the pace throughout on his second hurdles start and should appreciate a step up in trip. His jockey said: “I thought if I got a good jump at the last I’d get there because he was just starting to gallop with me. He’s a little bit backward and learning all the time. He should improve from that.”

WELCOME WINNER

All The Chimneys gave Willie Austin his first success for almost 14 months when getting up close home under David Mullins to shade it by a neck from Littlestickarubarb in the Powerstown 80-102 Handicap Hurdle.

The lean spell has been a frustrating time for the trainer who explained: “Our horses just weren’t right last year with allergies but hopefully we have them right for this year and he had a good man on his back.”

Daniel Holden rode his third winner when bringing Shark Hanlon’s 25/1 shot Redwood Boy down the stands rail to claim the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle by half a length from Crack On Corrie, with the favourite, She’s Made It, the same distance away in third.

Hanlon trains the longshot for John Sherlock from Rathcabbin and revealed: “I ran him over fences only a week ago and Rachael came back in and said he was a coward. I had him entered here at the time and that’s why he ran.

“He likes this place and won here before but he’s one of those horses where things have to fall into place for him. He had a lovely weight on his back and I told Daniel to keep him to the wide outside.

“He likes a bit of nice ground and I’ll probably put him away until next year but I don’t think chasing is going to be part of his life!”

GOOD SERVANT

Aengus King’s good servant Capture The Drama caused a 12/1 upset under Eoin Mahon in the Club Stand Restaurant 0-116 Handicap Chase, eight days after he had been pulled-up at Punchestown.

The eight-year-old jumped on at the fourth from home out and, when the market leader Lacken Bridge ran out at the penultimate obstacle, that left the way clear for King’s charge to rack up his ninth career win, by threequarters of a length.

“I’d say he just ran out of steam in Punchestown,” said the Newmarket-on-Fergus handler.

“Today it was a weak enough race and he got his own way – that’s the type of horse he is. He’ll run in any ground, bar heavy and is best just before it gets heavy.”

Cheveley Park Stud’s new found love affair with jump racing and the Gordon Elliott stable continued when the Jamie Codd-ridden 2/1 favourite Western Honour took the concluding Next Meeting Thursday January 10th (QR) Maiden Hurdle by half a length from Castlebawn West.

His trainer reflected: “He’s improved with every run. Jamie said he was probably in front too soon but he’s paying his way and will pay his way over fences. He’ll run somewhere at Christmas and we’ll step him up to three miles. It’s great to have another one for Cheveley Park.”

Presentation

DYLAN Robinson was presented with the John T. Purcell Memorial Trophy and a cheque for €1,000 for being the leading claiming National Hunt professional jockey at Clonmel in 2018.

Suspension

IN the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle, Liam Gilligan, Shane Mulcahy and Tom Ryan were all given four-day whip suspensions.

Patrick Mullins was also handed out a one-day suspension for his ride on Castlebawn West in the (Q.R.) Maiden Hurdle.

ACTING STEWARDS

J. Moloney, N.P. Lambert, P. Dowling, L. Walsh.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

DYNAMIC ALLEN

(B.R. Hamilton): It may have been a moderate race but he only began to feel the pinch in the maiden hurdle between the last two on his first outing since the end of March. Should improve from the run.