CLONDAW Warrior made it 100 winners for the season in Ireland for Ruby Walsh with an ultra smooth triumph in the Farmhouse Foods Handicap Hurdle which looks to have teed up this versatile nine-year-old for another good summer. Successful at Royal Ascot and a €100,000 handicap on the flat at Galway as well well as reaching the frame at Group 2 level, the Willie Mullins inmate was looking to improve on his second in this race in 2015. Clondaw Warrior, whose owners include Walsh’s wife, Gillian, was ten pounds higher this time and he hadn’t run since October but he was just different class.

Perhaps the most impressive winner of the meeting, Clondaw Warrior (9/2) was given an ultra cool ride by Walsh who allowed his partner to scythe through the pack on the inner from the turn in. The pair still had work to do at the second last but even at this stage Clondaw Warrior looked to have everything covered. He quickened up smartly to tackle and head The Plan Man at the last flight and he had lots to spare in scoring by three lengths.

“Hopefully he’ll get into the Galway Hurdle now, he just missed the cut for it last year,” said Mullins, whose charge also missed out on making the field for one of the handicaps at Cheltenham. “They went a good gallop and I thought that was the ride of the week from Ruby. Before Galway there are a few places he could go and he’s in the Scottish Champion Hurdle. He’ll be running on the flat too.”

KERRY ON FORM

A tremendous meeting for Kerry Lee ended with Top Gamble bagging the Grade 2 Normans Grove Chase to earn a shot at top level glory at Punchestown. A second winner from three runners at the meeting for Ms Lee, Top Gamble was previously a dominant winner of the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury. Furthermore this was a first winner in Ireland since October 2013 for British Champion Jockey elect Richard Johnson. Intriguingly the last time Johnson rode a winner at this track was when he partnered Florida Pearl in this race back in January 2004.

With Flemenstar setting quite a searching pace Top Gamble bided his time but it was all looking quite ominous for the home team turning for home. The 5/4 favourite then asserted after the second last fence and he was seven lengths too strong for the former Grade 1 scorer Sizing Granite who didn’t help his cause with several late mistakes.

“I was mildly concerned about the ground but he handled it and Cheltenham would have been too quick for him which is why he came here,” reported the winning trainer. “It was great to have Richard Johnson on board as he knows the horse so well and the horse is versatile, he can do it from the front or come from behind. He’s now won three Grade 2s so he’s entitled to a shot at a Grade 1 and he’ll hopefully be back for the BoyleSports Champion Chase at Punchestown. He wouldn’t want the ground any better than good to soft.”

The classy Coney Island produced a quality performance in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle Series Final. Eddie Harty’s charge struggled at Grade 1 level last time and, while this represented a drop in class, he was taking a major step up in trip to three miles and he had to defy a mark of 130. The 9/1 chance came through this test with flying colours as he was going much the best from the turn in and, having led before the last for Barry Geraghty, he was an assured two and three quarter lengths winner over Stowaway Shark.

“He looked class when he won his maiden at Christmas and the Grade 1 last time probably just came too soon on that ground at that stage of his career, he’s still a raw horse,” declared the trainer of the J.P. McManus-owned gelding. “The better ground helped him and he travelled like a dream. I’m not sure what there is for him at Punchestown and if he doesn’t run again this season that’s a nice note to finish on.”

BACK TO HIS BEST

Cara’s Oscar’s capacity to produce his best off a lengthy break was yet again in evidence as he defied top weight in the BoyleSports Handicap Chase. Colm Murphy’s charge now has five wins to his name and four of those have come off absences of seven months or more. On this occasion the 8/1 shot was having his first outing since June and he travelled notably well for Robert Power before taking the measure of Coolnagorna Giggs as the fence loomed. The Anthony Battersby and Sean Delaney-owned ten-year-old scampered clear on the run in to land this extended three miles contest by five and a half lengths. The well backed 6/4 favourite Oscar Knight was fifth after clouting the third last.

“He does go very well fresh. We’ve always struggled to get a second run into him so today was the plan,” reported Colm Murphy.

After several decent runs behind a number of the better novices around Mr Diablo took advantage of a golden opportunity in the two miles one furlong beginner’s chase. Only four went to post here and Philip Dempsey’s charge was returned the 2/5 favourite under the trainer’s son, Luke. For much of the race Mr Diablo and chief market rival Pink Coat went toe to toe and the latter could do no more from two out. The eye catching Bobbe’s Diamond came through to secure second but was still four lengths adrift at the line.

“He’s run some good races but there just always seemed to be a good one in against him,” commented the trainer as he made it three winners from his last four runners. “It’s great he’s won for his owner Aidan Glynn as this is his local meeting. The ground was tacky and he probably didn’t jump as well as he can. Better ground is no problem to him and he’ll keep going now. We’ll look at Punchestown.”

Pat Doyle’s Sydney Paget (6/5) translated his good pointing form to the track to land the Uni-Flu Supporting Ratoath GAA Joseph R. O’Reilly Hunters Chase under Roger Quinlan. The favourite jumped well but went out to his left at a number of fences and he looked to be in trouble when Dantes King swept past nearing the last fence. The latter’s effort soon began to falter though and a rallying Sydney Paget got back to the front on run in to prevail by two and a quarter lengths.

“Ideally he needs to go left handed, he lost a few lengths at a number of fences today,” stated Doyle who trains the Flemensfirth gelding for Roger O’Byrne. “If we get some ease in the ground he could go to Killarney in May and there is Stratford to consider as well.”

Gordon Elliott introduced a newcomer of some promise in the 42.ie-sponsored bumper in Miracle In Medinah (10/1) who could be quite a prospect for next season. A fifth J.P. McManus-owned of the meeting, this Milan gelding was quite green at various stages and looked as if he might struggle to get a run at one stage in the straight. However, he picked up in fine style when getting into the clear for Luke McGuinness and he cut down Some Neck nearing the line to succeed by half a length.

“Luke is a good rider and I’d say this could be a nice horse. He’s quite green still and I’d have been thrilled if he was in the first four. I’d say he won’t run again until next season,” declared Elliott.

ACTING STEWARDS

J.M. McGrath, J. Gaisford St. Lawrence , N. O’Byrne, S.H. Walford, L. Reynolds