Duc D'allier impresses in Clonmel

Duc D'allier enjoyed a facile victory in the opening maiden hurdle at Clonmel with Mark Walsh doing the steering.

He was settled behind the leaders before making headway on the inner after the third flight.

He led narrowly at the fourth from Captain Leo who made a bad mistake and dropped back through the field.

This left Duc D'allier with a comfortable lead of a couple of lengths.

He tanked along and moved clear by the last with the victory secured by a mighty leap there.

The well backed 5/4 favourite cruised in by 12 lengths from Analytical Mindset (40/1) and Border Control at 6/4.

Assistant trainer David Roche said: "We thought coming here he was a really nice horse and he looked like it today and hopefully he'll head to Galway now - the owners want to go there.

"He loved that ground and they have done a great job on the ground and it's perfect ground. He jumps well and with the size of him, he'll make a fine chaser.

"His first run was a good run but he just had to learn and he jumped well.

"Henry (de Bromhead) is at the Curragh."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes