Prince proves a thorn in the side of bookies Blackthorn Prince followed up an easy Ballinrobe win last month with another convincing success in the Nire Valley Handicap Hurdle at Clonmel. Trained by Enda Bolger for J P McManus the former point-to-point winner was strong in the market as morning price quotes of 9/2 shrunk to 5/2 favouritism by the off. Mark Walsh made his move to challenge in the straight, and the six-year-old gelding kept on well in the closing stages of this three-mile event to score by three quarters of a length. A Decent Excuse took the runner-up spot, with the frustrating Cadawill again in the money another two and three quarter lengths away in third. Bolger said, "He'll go for another three miles handicap hurdle while he is in that frame of mind. "He had been hard to get right but is a good jumper and has already been over the cross-country course at Punchestown." (TW & AM)
