Straight Home one for the Whitegrass Racing Syndicate

Willie Mullins' Straight Home defied top weight of 12st 4lb to land the qualified riders' handicap hurdle on Clonmel's card.

Patrick Mullins' mount travelled on the heels of the leaders and got a split inside the final quarter of a mile.

The Yeats mare jumped two out on terms with Battle Roar and Romella and Mullins soon got busy in the plate.

Straight Home held a narrow lead over the last and was strong on the short run-in as she went on by two and a-half lengths to justify 5/6 favouritism.

Romella (17/2) just shaded a staying-on Duke Otto (6/1) for second place.

Jockey Mullins said: "The syndicate (Whitegrass Racing Syndicate) haven't had a winner since Dads Lad won in Cheltenham two years ago this weekend, so they deserve that.

"Liam Cullinan, who runs the Midlands-based syndicate, has been with us since I started riding, so I'm delighted for them."

He added: "She went very close twice recently and we dropped back in grade from 0-109 to 0-102. We'll go back up to the 109-grade now and hopefully she can win another and she will jump a fence in time as well."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes