CHELTENHAM Gold Cup third Road To Riches made a winning seasonal return at Clonmel on Thursday where the Gigginstown House Stud-owned, Noel Meade-trained gelding landed the feature and prestigious Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase.

The son of Gamut was dropping back to two and a half miles for today’s race but jockey Bryan Cooper made plenty of use of his stamina and in the end made all, with a bold jump at the last, for a comfortable six lengths win over Felix Yonger.

A relieved Meade stated: “I don’t usually sweat about runners but I couldn’t sleep last night. I was thinking would he fancy the track or the ground and going two and a half miles around here but you’d have to be happy and he jumped great.

“Bryan said he was full of running going down to the last and there is no question that he stays three miles.

“We know what to do with him now but don’t know where we go next. Michael (O’Leary) mentioned the Durkan Chase but I think three miles would suit better.

“I’d rather run in either the Lexus or King George but everything in the outfit (Gigginstown) is done on a discussion basis and there’ll be any amount of discussion but the chairman usually rules anyway!”

Gigginstown House and Cooper had earlier taken the previous Clonmel Oil Service Station Handicap Hurdle with Prince Of Scars, which formed the second leg of a double for former Grand National winning trainer Gordon Elliott.

The 4/1 joint favourite proved five lengths too strong for Kylecrue and Elliott later commented: “He’s a big, honest, galloping horse but is still a big baby. We’ll look for a three mile handicap hurdle for him at Leopardstown over Christmas next.”

Elliott earlier won the opening INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle with 9/10 favourite Jetstream Jack who was the opening winner of a treble for ‘super sub’ Ruby Walsh.

Walsh was a late call-up for Jetstream Jack, with declared rider Davy Russell forced to sit out the meeting, having failed to obtain the appropriate paperwork needed to ride.

Walsh, who also partnered Jetstream Jack on his seasonal reappearance at Galway last month, arrived in the nick of time to weigh out on the winner but in the race he was able to ease the winner past his rivals from two out. In the end he beat Sizing Alberta by four lengths.

Elliott stated: “He’s a big oul’ galloping horse. He’ll step up in trip and loves soft ground and will jump a fence too.

“He’ll go for a little novice hurdle over three miles somewhere next.

“It was nice to have a winner for Graham and Diana Whateley and we had a good man (Walsh) stepping in today!”

Reigning champion jockey Walsh doubled his score on the Willie Mullins-trained Vroom Vroom Mag in the Grade 3 EBF T.A. Morris Memorial (Mares) Chase.

The Susannah and Rich Ricci-owned 1/4 favourite made light work of beating three rivals and Mullins said: “She did it nicely and will be aimed at a mares’ campaign; there’s a race for her at Carlisle and there’s another one for her in England in February.

“She’s in the Hennessy but that’s not my first line of thought and we’ll go slowly with her this season.”

Walsh’s treble was brought up in the finale as he supplied Mullins with his own double as Noble Inn coasted to an easy win in the Clonmel Oil Slan Abhaile Hurdle.

The well-backed 8/11 favourite (was as big as 6/4 the previous evening) moved clear of his seven rivals before beating Hostile Fire by six lengths.

Champion trainer Mullins said: “I was worried whether he’d handle the ground but on his flat prep, I thought he had a pound or two in hand over hurdles.

“Races like the Boylesports Hurdle and the County Hurdle could suit but looking at that you’d say he could stay three miles and he’s as tough as nails.”

On a good day for favourite backers, the well-backed Oscar Sam (7/1 in the morning into 5/2 favourite) made a winning debut for trainer Jessica Harrington.

Ridden by Robbie Power, the Rathangan-based Cooper Family Syndicate’s runner led after three out and eventually beat Macs Legend by a length and three-parts.

Harrington quipped: “I didn’t have much to do with that as I came back from holidays yesterday!

“He came to me big and fat in August off a summer’s grass and I’m delighted with him.

“It was a good start and he’s in at Fairyhouse next week over two and a half miles. Anything is a possibility but we’ll see how he comes out of this.”

The only non-favourite to win was the Eoin Doyle-trained Indian Fairy, which landed the Prior Park Service Station Handicap Chase, under in-form 7lb claimer Donagh Meyler.

The daughter of Indian Danehill carries the colours of Sean Connor and having been backed from 14/1 in the morning, today recorded her third career win at odds of 8/1.

Doyle wasn’t present for the mare’s first win since landing a beginners chase at the same course in October 2014.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

FELIX YONGER (W.P. Mullins): shaped with plenty of promise on his seasonal reappearance run on ground a little more testing than ideal. He should strip much fitter for this staying on effort.

ACTING STEWARDS

S. McDonogh, P. Coveney, N. P. Lambert, P.D. Matthews