Power doubles up on Moonshine Bay

Robbie Power completed a quick double at Clonmel as Moonshine Bay justified favouritism in the Monroe Maiden Hurdle.

Power was successful in the previous race aboard Beyond The Law who also carries the Potts colours, and the Jessica Harrington-trained gelding got well on top in the closing stages. Great Khan appeared set to challenge entering the straight but as they emerged from the thick blanket of fog before the last it was Moonshine Bay who had taken control.

The 2/1 chance, available at 7/2 earlier in the day, stayed on strongly to beat Giant Spirit by six lengths with Great Khan weakening dramatically in the heavy ground to finish a further ten lengths away in third.

Power said, "He wasn't mad about that ground but his ability got him through. It is very very heavy ground and the whole way down the hill I was thinking he's going to fall in a hole but to be fair to him when he levelled out at the bottom of the hill, he picked up well.

"He was stepping up in trip a little bit and he learned a lot at Navan. That race turned into a sprint and he got caught flat-footed a bit but he has improved since then.

"Whatever he does this year he's a chaser in the making."

(TW & AM)