HIGH-class Gaelic Warrior continued his progression through the hurdling ranks at Clonmel on Thursday, where easily landing the Munster Hurdle to provide trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend with doubles.

Runner-up in the Boodles Hurdle at Cheltenham in March when jumping to his right, the Rich Ricci-owned five-year-old today rewarded plenty supporters at odds of 1/14, having been 1/4 in the morning, making all for an easy 15 lengths success over stablemate Blue Sari.

Gaelic Warrior did, however, display a tendency to again jump right here and afterwards Townend said “I was trying to keep out to the outside (on better ground) but all the room was to the right, which was always going to happen.

“He does prefer to go right to correct himself but when he is racing and going about it, he straightens up. Hopefully he can make up for the disappointment at Cheltenham last year.”

Mullins and Townend earlier had won the opening Kilsheelan Mares Maiden Hurdle with impressive Night And Day (2/5 favourite), which made virtually all for a 22 lengths win over 40/1 chance Apples In Winter.

Townend was impressed by the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned winner. He said: “She was doing nice work last year and was thrown in very deep (in a Fairyhouse Grade 1) and she has a future, that’s for sure.

“The hurdles are nearly too small for her, with the size of her and she will even improve for a fence but has a future over hurdles first.”

Good resolution

Trainer Philip Rothwell continued a good recent run when his Oliver Barden-owned Union Park (7/1) landed the Jossestown Handicap Chase, under Darragh O’Keeffe.

The son of Walk In The Park tracked the leaders and eventually showed good resolution in beating 1/1 favourite Bonnie Kellie by just over three lengths.

Rothwell reported: “I chose not to run him in Cork last week when it became very heavy over two miles and four furlongs and Oliver was super-good to support me in not running and to wait for two miles today.

“Sometimes we make right decisions and sometimes wrong decisions, but that was definitely a right one.

“Oliver is fantastic. We had six or seven winners together last year but this season we’ve only had five seconds, without a winner, so he deserves this. The whole family really love their racing and my connection with Oliver goes back 10 years and he is more than a client to me. He is a great friend.”

THE other chase on the card was the Rathronan Hunters Chase which saw jockey Mikey O’Connor notch a 500th career success, mixed between racecourse wins and point-to-points, on 20/1 outsider Grange Island.

Grange Island was an all-out head winner, under a brave ride from O’Connor, 41, who came in for strong praise from winning trainer Liam Burke, who said: “Fair play to Mikey, by God he is still able to ride them and there’s nothing wrong with his bottle! He got great jumps out of him.

“The horse cost the price of a good horse in the early days and it is great for his owner Martin Fleming today, as he has been in poor health. He was due to come this morning but wasn’t feeling well enough - he is a dream owner and you’d like to see him have some luck.”

Jockey O’Connor added: “That’s my 500th winner and 411 have been in point-to-points. I want to get to 413 to equal Enda Bolger’s point-to-point record. I’d like to join him, as he was a great rider.

Horses coughing

Trainer Anthony McCann and jockey J.J. Slevin were on the mark in the Monroe Maiden Hurdle with Cillians Charm, who improved on a below-par run at Doncaster.

McCann later explained: “He was probably a bit flat in Doncaster and we gave him enough time. He was due to run at Limerick over Christmas but there were two horses coughing in the yard that morning so I didn’t take the chance.

“Sharon Kelly spotted him in a point-to-point last year and we bought him from Andy Slattery’s.

“He deserved it, he has been bridesmaid for long enough so it is great to get one over the line for the Hasson Syndicate who have been loyal supporters.”

The Prunella Dobbs-trained Premier Queen managed a 30-length success in the Lisronagh Handicap Hurdle, scoring impressively under jockey Kieran Buckley for the Fin and Feather Syndicate.

Dobbs later reported: “Her jumping had let her down but she now has her confidence and is a real stayer. She doesn’t have a real turn of foot at the end of her races but keeps going. She is out of Premier Victory, who was top-class.

“The ground was very bad along the rail. However, I said to go on it as she goes through it. It is nice for Fergal Duncan and the syndicate, everybody is excited.”

Rolly Bowley Boy (11/2) got off the mark at the sixth attempt in the Tipperary Handicap Hurdle, scoring for trainer Ciaran Murphy, jockey Eoin Walsh and the Artan Gale Syndicate. Murphy commented: “He is a lovely horse but has been a tricky customer. Eoin has been riding him and has done a super job with him. Fences will probably be his thing and he seems to go on that ground.

“This is the owners’ (the Artan Gale Syndicate) first horse with me and they’re a three-member ground, headed by Brendan Egan from Tullamore, and this is a great thrill.”