Road To Riches and Bryan Cooper © Photo Healy Racing
Class told in the testing conditions as Road To Riches returned with success in the Clonmel Oil Chase.
Noel Meade's top performer made his own running over a trip that would be at the lower end of his range and although he established a decent gap on his four rivals down the back, the pack had closed up turning in.
There was plenty left in the tank, however, and the well-backed 8-13 favourite stretched away again towards the last, where a fluent leap sealed a six-length defeat of Bright New Dawn < Vroum Vroum Mag (1-4 favourite) made it six from six over fences with a bloodless success in the E.B.F. T.A. Morris Memorial Mares Chase.
Willie Mullins' exciting French recruit travelled well within herself in the hands of Ruby Walsh and toyed with her rivals, sauntering seven and a half lengths clear of Miss Dinamic with a yawning gap back to the other two.
With Davy Russell's comeback delayed, Walsh stepped into the breach on Jetstream Jack in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners E.B.F. Maiden Hurdle and landed odds of 9-10 with the minimum of fuss.
That initiated a brace for Gordon Elliott, completed by Prince Of Scars in the Clonmel Oil Service Station Handicap Hurdle under Road To Riches' rider Bryan Cooper.
The 4-1 joint-favourite still has plenty to learn and was far from foot-perfect at the last, but he beat Kylecrue by five lengths in the style of horse with his best days firmly ahead of him.< Oscar Sam (5-2 favourite) made the perfect start to life with Jessie Harrington by coming out on top in the Clonmel Oil Race Day Handicap Hurdle, while Indian Fairy (8-1) won the Prior Park Service Station Clonmel Handicap Chase.
Walsh completed a treble when Noble Inn justified 8-11 favouritism with ease in the Clonmel Oil Slan Abhaile Hurdle, cruising to a six-length triumph without having to come out of second gear.
