The hugely progressive Clondaw Warrior did the business again as brilliant apprentice Jack Kennedy won on his first ride for Willie Mullins in the featured Guinness Handicap at Galway.

Markedly back in the trip the Royal Ascot hero, and now Ebor bound (three weeks time) eight-year-old, assumed command on the inner from before the straight, before asserting for a length and a half win over the gambled-on favourite Golden Spear

"It was a brilliant performance and Jack gave him a super ride," commented Ruby Walsh, part of the victorious Act D Wagg Syndicate.

"Willie looked at the race yesterday morning and he said horses for courses and Jack Kennedy can ride him.

"We'd obviously have loved if he'd gotten into the Galway Hurdle, but he wasn't rated high enough. This was a good pot though and it's great to win.

"He's a right one - the girls are getting great fun out of him - he's brilliant."

Also involved in the successful grouping David Casey said: "It's brilliant - fair play to the trainer - we wanted to run tomorrow in the two mile five handicap hurdle but the trainer said today was the day as he thought it was a winnable race.

"He got a great ride from Jack Kennedy - a very good seven pound claimer - but in fairness it's down to the trainer, he's a gifted man. He picked the race."

For his part Jack Kennedy said: "It was brilliant, I was just touched off the past couple of days so it was nice to get one on the board.

"For it to be a big handicap and for Willie Mullins makes it even better.

"He travelled brilliant and he carried me everywhere. A gap opened up coming down into the dip and I wanted to get in there quick, and I just gave him a bit of a squeeze as I wanted to get in there before it closed.

"He carried me through no bother and I probably got there a shade too soon but he stayed galloping.

"That's my seventeenth winner so I have three left on my seven pound claim.

"I couldn't have gotten off to a better start, and everyone that's given me rides and winners have been very good to me."

(TW & EM)