THE Willie Mullins-trained odds-on favourite Tiger Tap Tap, racing in the familiar silks of Susannah Ricci, was left with the Munster Hurdle for the taking at Clonmel after his main danger Insult came to grief after the final flight when suffering what appeared to be a fatal heart attack.

The 1/2 favourite had just begun to lengthen away when the drama struck and Paul Townend’s mount went on to beat Ferocious by 23 lengths.

The trainer’s assistant David Casey observed: “It was unfortunate for the other horse but we’ll take it anyway. He had the measure of Insult and was entitled to win on his couple of very good runs in maidens last year.

“He jumps quick but went slow in the ground which wasn’t ideal. He’s won twice now and that will give him confidence.”

Mullins and Townend doubled up via Paul Connell and Alan McGonnell’s French-bred newcomer Lord Royal who took the Monroe Maiden Hurdle in the style of a good prospect.

Sent off the 4/5 favourite, the tall grey jumped into the lead five out and had the opposition in trouble with two left to jump, drawing away to record a bloodless 33-length victory over Farmix.

Beautiful

The hotpot was recommended to the trainer by Jeremy Maxwell after he found the five-year-old in France and Casey said: “He’s a beautiful horse to look at and a gorgeous horse as well – we like him anyway.

“Paul said he went through the ground (officially heavy), no problem and, in time, he’s going to be a chaser over maybe two and a half miles.

“He’s in the two novice hurdles at the Dublin Racing Festival but I’d imagine that will come a bit soon. I’d imagine, we’ll be looking for something between now and Cheltenham and he has a very relaxed way of going that helped him.”

Onlookers

The majority of onlookers expected the same trainer and jockey partnership to be awarded the Kilsheelan Mares Maiden Hurdle in the stewards’ room after market leader Getaway Gorgeous was denied by the front-running Declan Queally-trained 6/4 chance Uisce Solas who came across her in the closing stages of the race from the second last to the winning post.

Enquiry

However, following an enquiry, the stewards were not satisfied that the winner had improved her placing as a result and allowed the result to stand. They did, however, suspend Uisce Solas’s rider Liam Quinlan for two days for careless riding.

Queally’s son and namesake commented: “That’s two bumpers and a maiden hurdle for her now and these mares races are worth a lot with the bonus.

“I’ll give her a break now.”

Christie has a ‘proper horse’ in Some Man

DAVID Christie made the three-and-three-quarter-hour journey from his Co Fermanagh base worthwhile when Some Man, owned by one of his main supporters, Ray Nicholas from Belfast, justified 6/4 favouritism in the Rathronan Maiden Hunters Chase.

Formerly in the care of Paul Nicholls, the dual point-to-point winner had the race in the bag under Rob James before two out and cruised home to win, with a bit in hand, by seven lengths from Saint Benedict in a race in which there were only four finishers.

“When he came out of Paul Nicholls, he was very keen and he’s had his problems but he’s never given me any bother,” said Christie.

“Seeing how they were strung out there, I was very worried about the ground, but he’s as good a horse as I’ve had, a proper horse and I’ll try to qualify him for Cheltenham now.”

Tim Doyle’s longstanding Nenagh patron Jim Monaghan was rewarded when his homebred Flemensfirth mare Trumps Ace picked up where she left off before Christmas with a decisive seven-and-a-half-length victory in the Jossestown 0-109 Handicap Chase.

Pressure

With market leader Benefit Run coming under pressure with two fences remaining, Ryan Treacy’s mount jumped the last fence well to see off Bridge Native in convincing fashion.

“It’s a great to follow up in what looked to be a better class race,” said the mare’s handler, adding: “She’s improving. I thought earlier in her career that she wanted further but she’s a bit slow to jump over hurdles and from a real chasing family. That’s her game.”

De Bennette’s overdue win

NEIGHBOURING trainer James Grace combined with 7lb claimer Trevor Ryan to capture the Lisronagh 80-95 Handicap Hurdle with De Bennette who shook off the opposition before the final flight for a comfortable eight-length win.

“It’s long overdue but she’s given more problems,” said the trainer. “Two years ago we discovered she had a big tumour on her ovary, bigger than a football and it took her a long time to recover. Then we were going to breed from her last year but she didn’t come in season.

“She’s a full-sister to De Benno and wants soft ground. She’s well-handicapped over fences, so hopefully she’ll win one or two of them.”

Challenge

Difficult Decision continued Oliver McKiernan’s recent run of success when overcoming a 609-day absence to land the Tipperary 80-102 Handicap Hurdle. The 16/1 shot led before two out where the favourite Fighting Fit fell when seemingly held and contained the persistent challenge of Spare Brakes by one and a quarter lengths.

Jockey Barry Browne reported: “He was keen early on. Oliver had him ready to run last year but didn’t want to risk him on the ground – he’s a soft ground horse with plenty to learn.”

A MINUTE’S silence was held during racing for trainer Ray Cody’s father Ray who was a great supporter of the course.

News also broke of the sad passing the previous morning of Ned Delmer from Caragh, Co Kildare whose son Ben is well-known as one of the travelling head lads to Willie Mullins.