Review clonmel 5th Apr

Declan Bates was the star of the show at Clonmel as the conditional jockey completed a double when Hidden Diamond took the thetote.com Beginners Chase.

With the final two fences being omitted it meant a long run to the line, and that suited Maria Kelly's 9-1 chance well, as he responded superbly to Bates' urgings to reel in Headford Flyer and score by half a length.

Bates' good day began when Philip Rothwell's Mount Welcome (9-2) proved a length and a half too strong for Carlowsantana in the thetote.com Handicap Hurdle.

Andrew McNamara was also in double form, starting when Saint Gervais justified odds-on favouritism with a tidy success in the second thetote.com Maiden Hurdle.< Celestial Prospect made his bid for home early, but McNamara had that move covered on the 4-7 chance, and they pulled clear after the second last to win by four and a half lengths.

McNamara followed up with victory in the thetote.com Handicap Chase aboard D's Trix

The 7-1 chance was travelling much the best on the turn for home and though Grandeur Cappy made him work for it, he had a length and a quarter in hand at the line.< Prince Ludovic produced a gutsy display to land the thetote.com Maiden Hurdle for Paul Nolan.

Davy Russell sent the 2-1 chance straight to the front, but for the whole of the second circuit he had Fine Presentation for company.

The duo jumped the second-last together, but Prince Ludovic found more close home to win by three and three-quarter lengths.

Eddie O'Connell produced an excellent waiting ride to get Fantastic Gold up in the thetote.com (Mares) Beginners Chase.

Held up at the back of the field in the early stages, the 11-2 chance crept into contention before going on to beat Twin Plan by a length and a quarter.