CLONMEL has been a lucky track for Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud in recent times and his familiar maroon and white colours were carried to success on two occasions at Thursday’s evening fixture, most notably by previous course winner Bright New Dawn who cruised to victory in the €17,500 Suir Valley Chase.

Last seen out finishing well down the field in the Grand Annual Chase at Cheltenham the 5/4 favourite had his tasked eased by the omission of the two fences in the straight due to low-lying sun. Partnered by Bryan Cooper for Gordon Elliott the nine-year-old son of Presenting went to the head of affairs well over a furlong out and won with plenty in hand by 12 lengths from Westerners Son.

The jockey said on his return: “He was entitled to win that on ratings and that’ll get his confidence back up. Probably the fences being out did him no harm either and that’s as far as he wants. I’d say he’ll be going back in trip rather than up.”

Gigginstown had earlier initiated their brace when Mouse Morris, fresh from his recent Irish Grand National success with Rogue Angel, saddled Alamein for an overdue win in the Easter Holidays Maiden Hurdle. Bleu Berry was the favourite here and was mounting his challenge in second when taking a crashing fall at the final flight, leaving Ruby Walsh with a sprained ankle.

That left Bryan Cooper’s mount, who had led off the last bend and appeared to have the upper hand, to come home by 18 lengths. The trainer will consult with the owners about future plans for Bright New Dawn but observed: “He’ll probably go chasing.”

ANCIENT’S RETURN

Shane Shortall had his claim reduced to three pounds, following Ancient Highway’s one and three-quarters of a length success for Pat Fahy in the two mile two and a half furlong €19.16 Family Admission Ticket 80-109 Handicap Hurdle.

The 8/1 shot is owned by his trainer’s wife Natalie and was showing no signs of ring-rustiness on his return from a 231 day absence. Shortall remarked: “It was a good performance. He had a blow at the top of the course but I kicked on going down the hill because he stays galloping. He jumps well too, so I made the most of that. He’ll probably be better going over a bit further.”

Co. Cork handler Mary Louise Hallahan is enjoying a good run and it continued when her father Con’s three-time hurdles winner Owennacurra Milan claimed the Slievenamon Beginners Chase on his fencing bow.

The 7/2 chance was never out of the first two in the hands of equally in-form rider Andrew Lynch and had the measure of the late-finishing Cairdre Aris by five and a half lengths. Hallahan agreed: “It’s unorthodox for an 11 year-old to be having his first run over fences but he seems to jump well and Andrew gave him a good ride.

“Depending on what mark he gets he’ll go for either a handicap or a winner’s of one but if the ground dries too much he won’t be running on it. He’ll get three miles and hopefully his jumping will improve.” She said of the stable’s fine spell: “The horses are in good form at the minute and the ground is falling right for us, so long may it last.”

Two weeks after his second placing behind Mount Beckham at Down Royal Laid Back Luke went one better for the Sheila Lavery – Robbie Colgan team with a nine length defeat of Lake Takapuna in the Ardfinnan Maiden Hurdle.

Sent off the 5/4 favourite on the back of two encouraging runs at this level for her brother John Lavery’s charge deserved his win. His trainer stated: “I’m really delighted and for Robbie as well. I can’t really take much of the kudos because Robbie rides him every day. He’s a tricky horse because he’s so lazy and hard to get fit but he has tons of ability so I was really pleased.

“He just likes to dictate the pace himself and do his own thing. He came out of his last race really well but I was just a bit worried today might have been a bit soon. I’ll discuss it with Robbie but I’ll keep him going for a while because the faster the ground the better he’ll be.”

Jessica Harrington became the third female trainer to get her name on the score sheet, thanks to the convincing performance of the J.P. McManus-owned Thirsty Work who only had to be kept up to his work by her daughter Kate to justify 15/8 joint favouritism by six and a half lengths from Crazyheart. The other well-supported joint favourite Joey Sasa was third.

The five-year-old Robin Des Champs gelding is a chaser in the making, with Mrs Harrington commenting: “He had a good run the last day (behind Invitation Only at Navan) and came here for the slightly better ground. He did it well and will be a lovely horse next year.”

Kildare-based handler Peter Maher nominated the cross-country race at Punchestown on the Saturday of the Festival as the next outing for his Martinstown Stud Opportunity Chase winner Mtada Supreme (9/2) who led from five out under Ambrose McCurtin and battled gamely at the finish in the colours of Breda Beattie to get on top by a neck from King Blue. Market leader Soaring High only got as far as the first fence.