The Willie Mullins-trained Saint Sam led his rivals a merry dance with a commanding performance from the front in the Clonmel Oil Chase this afternoon.

Paul Townend bounced out in front on the 6/4 favourite and set a strong pace. Solness was the only rival to lie up with the leader.

That rival came under pressure going to the second last and Saint Sam was soon in control.

The Saint de Saints gelding got in tight at the penultimate fence but was clear when popping the last and just had to be kept up to his work late on to post a six-and-a-half length win. Fil Dor ran on to claim the runner-up spot without looking like a danger.

It was a 11th career victory for Saint Sam a hat-trick after two hurdles wins on his two most recent outings.

Townend said:- "He is a hardy bit of stuff, has his way of doing it and you're a passenger on him, as much as anything.

“If you pull against him, it is faster he ends up going and Brian Gleeson (today's M.C.) summed it up well when he said "steered by..." !

"I had a little look behind and was surprised he (Solness) was coming with me but that doesn't really affect my horse, as he has half-daft.

“In France the last day James Reveley (jockey on Gallipoli) took me on very early in the race but we were still going the same gallop.

"He is a big strong horse so when he makes a mistake he just gallops away from it. He is so hard on himself but there is fire in his belly and he is a great servant for those races."

It was a quick double on the card for Mullins following the victory of Pink In The Park in the preceding race.

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)