Review clonmel 20th Mar

< Minella Fair justified strong market support to run away with the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle at Clonmel.

The Noel Meade-trained seven-year-old was backed down to 9-4 joint-favourite and made his own running under Sean Flanagan.< Force Of Forces was the only conceivable danger as they embarked on the long run to two out, but Minella Fair soon saw him off and coasted across the line a massive 62 lengths to the good over High Sparrow < Poly Rock (5-2) finally made it to a racecourse at the age of seven in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle and immediately began to make up for lost time.

The Willie Mullins-trained debutant took the lead off favourite Allardyce at the second-last and soon stamped his authority on the event, coming home with 13 lengths in hand.< Awayinthewest had to settle for second for the third race in a row as she couldn't quite reel in Shimmer's Rock (4-1) in the Kilsheelan Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Formerly with Awayinthewest's trainer Pat Fahy but making her debut for Pat Collins, Shimmer's Rock stayed on well to keep the odds-on favourite a length and a quarter at bay.< Back Bar never gave favourite-backers too much to worry about in the Comeragh Handicap Hurdle.

Davy Russell oozed confidence on Gordon Elliott's 13-8 chance, cruising into contention off the home turn before stretching six lengths clear of Timmie Row.< Luckyinmilan and Mindsmadeup disputed the lead throughout the Carrick-On-Suir Handicap Chase and were still locked together at the last, but 11-10 favourite Luckyinmilan got away from it slightly quicker and scored by half a length.< Danse Away (11-4) had cheekpieces on for the first time and it helped him break his duck in the Lisronagh Handicap Hurdle, and his jockey Danny Mullins followed up on Betterthanalright (14-1) in the Racing Again March 29th Handicap Chase.