Review clonmel 18th May

The feature race at Clonmel on Thursday evening was won in good style by 134-rated hurdler Ornua

The 5-4 favourite, trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Brian O'Connell, galloped his rivals into submission in the Clonmel Racecourse Supporters Club Guest Evening Hurdle and put the race to bed before two-out when pulling away from chief market rival Morgan

The six-year-old hit the line hard to record a 17-length victory at the expense of Gordon Elliott's inmate.

In doing so Ornua franked a piece of Down Royal form, a maiden hurdle in which Elliott's Vanishing Point was runner-up.

The son of Pivotal was sent off a 13-8 favourite for the Clonacody (C & G) Maiden Hurdle and did not disappoint under former champion jockey Davy Russell.

Russell was always confident aboard the four-year-old and he won by half a length from Aherlow despite a slight blunder at the final flight.

Champion trainer Willie Mullins introduced Lareena in the Ancient East Mares Maiden Hurdle when action got underway at 5.30 but Ruby Walsh's sole ride on the card was disappointing.

Mullins' French recruit was never able to land a blow and it was the second favourite Nicaragua (9-2) who got off the mark under an inspired Rachael Blackmore ride.

Con O'Keeffe's charge set the standard boasting a rating of 102 and she made all for a two-and-a-half-length success.

Blackmore doubled up in the Sliabh Na mBan Handicap Hurdle courtesy of 14-1 chance Millen Dollar Man who got off the mark at the 27th attempt for trainer William Harney.

Jockey Denis O'Regan was on the score sheet when Stormey (7-1) ran out a ready winner of the Quirke UPVC Windows (Clonmel) Handicap Hurdle.

Stephen Mahon's seven-year-old, who survived a stewards inquiry, was given a patient O'Regan ride and stayed on strongly to score by a length and three quarters from Fiesole < Jefferson Davis (8-1) came out on top in a ding-dong battle with Zig Zag to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap Hurdle for Eoin Doyle and Sean Flanagan.