Rebel Fitz© Photo Healy Racing
Rebel Fitz ran out a convincing winner of the opening two-mile maiden at Clonmel.
The race had a distinctly jumps feel to it and the smart hurdler proved a different class to his rivals.
Seamus Heffernan tracked the leaders on the 6/4 favourite before hitting the front with half a mile to run.
The Michael Winters-trained gelding stretched away from the field when asked for an effort two furlongs out and galloped on strongly in the closing stages for a cosy five-length success over He'llberemembered
The winner had been well supported before racing, from as big as 5/2.
"The plan is to go chasing with him in a couple of weeks," revealed Winters.
"That was beautiful ground, pure National Hunt ground, and once we get a slight ease he'll be chasing away for the summer.
"Adrian Maguire schooled him at Dromahane just over a week before Punchestown.
"He jumped the three fences in the straight three times and is a great jumper. In fact Mikey O'Connor had schooled him over fences even before he ran in a bumper."
Joseph O'Brien made the dash back from Chester to ride runner-up He'llberemembered.
The champion apprentice flew into Cork and drove to the course, arriving half an hour before the first race.
Gary Carson & Alan Magee
