2 from 3 for Sole Pretender

Sole Pretender made it two wins from three starts when victorious in race four at Clonmel, the Fethard Maiden Hurdle.

The Gold Well gelding took a Ballinrobe bumper on debut in May, before returning with a Navan fourth placing in a maiden hurdle last month.

With that experience under his belt, Andrew Lynch was positive on the up in trip four-year-old, and that front-running approach took him all the way to a four and a quarter length verdict over Stubborn Logic (big prices earlier into a returned 10/1).

The third spot was taken by Emir De Rots owned by former Tipperary hurling star Nicky English.

Emir De Rots was backed from 10/1 into 9/2 and was a further six lengths off the front pair.

"We always thought a lot of him and we thought we'd step him up in trip and expose the ones that mightn't stay and bowl along and make all," said winning trainer Norman Lee.

"He's a grand little horse and is worth getting up for every day - he's why we're trying to train horses.

"We might take him to England for a novice or else leave him off as he has enough done as he's a nice four year old. He's belonging to the best owner (Michael Hogan) that you could possibly have and he had chances to sell him after the bumper he won and he kept him. 

"Please god he'll be a horse for Galway next summer as we are yet to get a Galway winner and it'd be nice to get it. He's a lovely horse to look forward to."

(TW & EM)