Review clonmel 18th Feb

< Urano gave the Willie Mullins stable something to cheer about when making a successful return to hurdles in the opening Munster Hurdle at Clonmel.

The Mullins camp suffered a major setback when Faugheen was ruled out of next month's Cheltenham Festival but can still boast an embarrassment of riches and Urano (7-1) ran out a decisive victor here, travelling well throughout before taking over approaching the second last and staying on strongly on the run-in.< Dont Tell No One was running on well until taking a crashing fall at the final flight and it was Aurora Bell who claimed second spot, finishing 16 lengths adrift of the winner.< Mount Gunnery (11-10 fav) registered his first success over fences when proving much too good in the Kilsheelan Beginners Chase.

The five length scorer was always handily placed and warmed to his task well, jumping better the further they went and possibly booking himself a ticket to Cheltenham in the process.

Some sizeable bets were landed in the Clonmel Maiden Hurdle as Alto Esqua justified favouritism to make an impressive winning debut.

The 4-6 market leader still looked a little bit green when asked to go and win his race but he produced a neat jump at the last and quickly asserted, pulling six lengths clear of Double Scores < De Plotting Shed (1-5 fav) strolled to an easy maiden success over hurdles when landing the Demesne Maiden Hurdle by 47 lengths for Gordon Elliott and Bryan Cooper.

Cooper was happy to stalk Get Out Of Jail for a long way but eased his mount to the front after the third last and the pair never had a moments worry thereafter as they cruised home in splendid isolation.

Elliott and Cooper combined for a second winner on the afternoon with wide-margin scorer Altiepix (11-4 fav) in the Bishop Auckland Theatre Hooligans 20th Birthday Handicap Chase while the Kilmolash Handicap Hurdle went the way of Head Turner (13-2) who provided trainer Pat Fahy with a double of his own.