JOHN Ryan has a decent sort on his hands in Gaelic Arc who followed up his maiden hurdle success on the opening day of the season with a likeable display in the Botanica International Rated Novice Hurdle at Clonmel on Thursday.

The Arcadio half-brother to the top class French jumper Galop Marin was a 25/1 shot when scoring at Down Royal last week. In what looked a potentially tougher assignment, he went off at 14/1 but he made a mockery of those odds under Niall Prendergast who was also on board when he won 10 days ago.

Gaelic Arc moved to the head of the field after the fourth flight and some quick and accurate jumping allowed him to maintain a decent lead for the duration of the back straight.

His rivals did close up somewhat turning in but the six-year-old readily kept them at bay and went on to defeat the favourite, Prairie Dancer, by six and a half lengths.

“He’s a nice horse and he’ll make his presence felt in those novice hurdles through the summer. He’s a lovely type of horse. It’s nice to have a horse of this class,” reflected Ryan whose charge is owned by Mark Fleming and Tom Westropp Bennett.

Double

A good evening for Ryan yielded a double as Father Jedd (18/1), in the colours of his trainer, recorded the eighth victory of his career in the 80-109 rated Botanica International Handicap Hurdle over two miles and three furlongs.

Donagh Meyler’s mount was very nimble at the last two flights as his steady effort enabled him to beat Our Dylan by three-parts of a length with the 13-year-old My Manekineko a further half length back in third.

Gillian Callaghan sent out her first winner for 12 months when The Dasher Conway won a cracking finish to the 0-109 rated Talbot Hotel Clonmel Handicap Hurdle. This seven-year-old won off a break of several months this time last year and was well-backed again, sent off a strongly supported 7/2 chance on his first outing since January.

The Dasher Conway was travelling smoothly for Keith Donoghue turning for home but in between the last two flights he seemed certain to be picked off by Uncle Gerhard. The latter got in close to the last though and a quicker jump from the P & G Callaghan Windows-owned top weight was the deciding factor as he got home by a head.

GORDON Elliott and Jack Kennedy ended the evening with a double and the second leg was provided by The Abbey (10/1) in division two of the 80-95 rated two-mile-three-furlong handicap hurdle where the gelding was called home by his part owner and racecourse commentator Gary O’Brien.

Back at a track where he debuted for Elliott when touched off in a maiden hurdle three years ago, The Abbey had gone winless on his first 22 outings under National Hunt rules. However, the dual flat winner put it all together as he travelled well and battled tenaciously after the last to hold off the 6/4 favourite Search For A Myth by half a length.

Earlier Elliott and Kennedy struck with Lieutenant Highway (3/1) in the two-mile-three-furlong maiden hurdle where he delivered on the promise he showed on several of his initial starts. The Michael Hanrahan-owned gelding was wearing cheekpieces for the first time as he moved up to this trip and he made much of the running.

For a period he was pressed for the lead by Vale Of Glory but he shook off that one before three out and he then battled on well in the straight to fend off Malinas Glory by two and a quarter lengths.

“He has been knocking on the door and has had a few nice runs so it was good to get his head in front. He enjoys nice ground and hopefully he’ll have a nice summer,” commented the trainer’s representative Lisa O’Neill.

The first divide of the 80-95 rated handicap hurdle went to Gavin Cromwell and Luke Dempsey as the four-year-old Steppenwolf (20/1) got off the mark on his first outing outside of maiden company.

The Bricks And Beer Syndicate-owned gelding asserted just before the last for a six-length success over Frazel Express and looks the type that can be placed to further advantage in the coming weeks.

WILLIE Mullins struck with his only runner of the evening and got off the mark for the season as Saylavee won the mares’ bumper in a canter.

This mare was beaten on her debut for the champion trainer at Limerick in February but looked right at home under these different conditions.

The Lynne Maclennan-owned daughter of Shantou, who was returned the 5/6 favourite, never came under the slightest semblance of pressure from Patrick Mullins to finish a dozen lengths clear of her overmatched rivals. She should have an industrious summer.

After amassing eight top four finishes from her first 11 starts the Henry de Bromhead-trained Cottie got her turn in the mares’ maiden hurdle over two miles.

Disaster could easily have struck for the 2/5 favourite at the third flight where Carrigmoorna Elm, who was directly in front of her, fell.

The market leader avoided that rival but four horses exited here. Happily all horses and riders emerged from this incident unscathed. Cottie and Darragh O’Keeffe took charge after two out for a near four-length triumph over Barbaha Queen. The 102-rated mare, who is owned by Pimlico Racing Ireland, was making her first appearance since a second in a Fairyhouse handicap hurdle last October.