Blue Lord came from last to first to deny his King George-winning stablemate Tornado Flyer and provide Willie Mullins with a seventh victory in the Clonmel Oil Chase on Thursday.

Champagne Fever (2014), Kemboy (2018) and Douvan (2019) are among the champion trainer’s previous winners of the Grade 2 feature and he saddled two of the four runners this time around.

Blue Lord, whose only defeat in five starts over fences last season came when third in the Arkle at Cheltenham, was the 5/6 favourite in the hands of Paul Townend.

Last year’s shock King George hero Tornado Flyer, meanwhile, was a 9/2 shot under Danny Mullins.

Unsurprisingly given he was dropping back in trip, Tornado Flyer was ridden aggressively from the front and had seen off both Darasso and Pencilfulloflead jumping the second-last obstacle.

Townend, however, produced Blue Lord with a well-timed challenge to grab the lead on the approach to the last and while Tornado Flyer fought back valiantly, he was a neck behind at the line.

Mullins was impressed with both horses. “Paul said Blue Lord is a much stronger horse this year and I’m very pleased with that. I thought both riders gave their horses great rides,” said Mullins.

“Blue Lord was keen but was as relaxed as he ever is and he will be able to relax, rather than to be a front-running two-miler. He is a big unit and you wouldn’t want him standing on your toe! David Porter, one of the tallest guys in the yard, does an excellent job with him.

“Blue Lord might get an entry for the Champion Chase, but if I can find a programme over two and a half miles, the Ryanair Chase would look a possibility.

“Danny said Tornado Flyer took a good blow so he will improve and we’ll send him, and maybe both, to the John Durkan at Punchestown.

“If Tornado Flyer comes out of that well, the King George would look the plan.”

Listed chase

Dolcita finished with a flourish to claim top honours in the T.A. Morris Memorial Irish EBF Mares Chase.

A field of nine runners went to post for the listed contest, with Dolcita one of two runners for champion trainer Willie Mullins along with Cheltenham Festival heroine Elimay.

While both brought strong claims to the table, neither headed the market, with that honour going to Joseph O’Brien’s 9/4 favourite Scarlet And Dove, who comprehensively beat both at Punchestown in April.

It was a very different story six months on, however, with both Scarlet And Dove and Elimay unable to land a telling blow as Ballyshannon Rose put up a bold display from the front.

Paul Townend conjured a late surge from 11/4 shot Dolcita, though, and she got up to score by half a length from the gallant runner-up.

Mullins said: “It is always easier to ride the second string and Paul just sat out and left them at it. They probably went a bit fast in front, he came along to take what was going and got the major prize.

“We went out hoping to get some prize money and didn’t think we’d get it all with her, but she is improving. That’ll be a big step up for her.

“Elimay will come along fitness-wise and the long-term plan is to go back to Cheltenham.”

Elliott double

Gordon Elliott enjoyed a double on the card, with Jack Kennedy steering Landrake (9/2) to win the opening maiden hurdle while The Four Sixes (5/1) won the second in the hands of Davy Russell.

Elliott’s assistant, Lisa O’Neill, said: “Landrake has definitely improved for the jump in front of him and the step up in trip. He will appreciate further in time and went through the ground really well – Jack was happy he handles it.

“The Four Sixes did it really nicely and Davy seemed really happy with him. He handled the ground really well and obviously it’s his first time over hurdles.”

Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore combined to land the Clonmel Oil Service Station Handicap Hurdle with 4-1 shot Clifton Warrior.

“I’m delighted with that. He just got lost in Listowel and something jumped into him and he came home sore. We found out he probably prefers that softer ground as well,” said De Bromhead.

“He is not a particularly big horse and we’ll keep him going over hurdles for this season. I’ll look for a soft ground, two-mile handicap hurdle somewhere next.”