Cheltenham next for Clondaw Warrior
The Shark Hanlon trained Clondaw Warrior will be aimed at next year’s Cheltenham Festival after landing the two mile three furlong bumper at Cork.
The horse, owned and ridden by Paul McMahon, had scored comprehensively at Down Royal previously and Hanlon is keen to set his sights higher with him now.
He said: “Since the last day I gave him a break and I knew he had improved a good bit.
“We’ll let him off now and go for the Cheltenham Bumper next March.
“I know he’s a proper horse and Paul would love to have a good ride in the race.
“He’s only a four-year-old and he has done plenty already.”
The winner was steady in the market at 2/1 and scored by half-a-length from the well-supported favourite Saint Gervais (5/2 to 15/8) who was attempting to give trainer John Kiely a treble on the card.
There was seven lengths back to Hang On Groovy in third at 16/1, backed in from 25/1.