Minella Fair jumps the last under Sean Flanagan© Photo Healy Racing
Minella Fair galloped his rivals into the ground, as he came home a very easy winner of the feature at Clonmel this afternoon, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle.
Sent straight to the front by Sean Flanagan, the Noel Meade trained bay made all and jumped well throughout.
He looked set to be challenged by Force Of Forces on the entrance to the straight, but he quickly shrugged that rival aside, stretching clear from before two out, going on to score easily by sixty-two lengths. High Sparrow (7/1) came through to take second under JJ Slevin for Joseph O'Brien, while the aforementioned Force Of Forces was another length and a quarter back in third.
The Patricia Hunt owned victor was available at 5/1 last night. opening on-course at just 5/2 before going off a 9/4 joint-favourite. Gun Digger was the other joint-favourite, and he disappointingly pulled up.
Flanagan said afterwards: "He's a horse that has a relentless one pace, and jumps really well. He was unlucky the last day as I got caught in a pocket and he was flying home at the end.
"I said I wasn't going to get caught in the same problem today, and I'd say he'll be a right horse when he jumps a fence. He's very effective on very heavy ground.
"Everything went against me the last day. They just hacked and then flew down the straight, and also the ground probably wasn't as bad the last day. He's as genuine as they come and throws his heart on the line for you."
The winner is a full-brother to Time For Rupert who won eight times in the UK. He was also second to Big Buck's in the World Hurdle in 2010, while he was fifth in the Gold Cup in 2012.
STEWARDS REPORTS
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Gun Digger, trained by Gordon Elliott, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be blowing hard post race and to have superficial cuts on his left hind cannon.
J .W. Kennedy, rider of Gun Digger trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was never travelling during this race before being pulled up.
P. Townend, rider of Force Of Forces (FR) trained by W.P. Mullins, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount finished distressed and was dismounted immediately.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
