Cliff takes the Cup

After a second and a winner in the preceding couple of races, it looked like Pat Flynn and Danny Grant were going to win the Tipperary Cup too with eventual runner-up Storm Away (traded at 1.01 in-running on a leading betting exchange). However she was mown down and beaten by the John Joe Walsh-trained and Rory Cleary-ridden Cliff House

To this observer at least, Storm Away never quite looked 'home for all money,' but it did appear bright for her connections and backers when she set sail for home with under two furlongs left to race.

Cliff House, lively in the betting this morning from around 25/1 into a returned 10/1, came with a storming run from over a furlong out though, and he got to the front from a hundred yards out for a two length win.

Well-backed odds-on favourite Eshtiaal had to settle for fourth.

"On the better ground he came back to his form," said Walsh.

"He was running over hurdles all winter and didn't have much luck.

"He won his first Flat race on this type of ground and has won three on the Flat now and two hurdles.

"While he's running well on the Flat we'll keep him to that but he jumps well also.

"Rory gave him a good patient ride."

(GC & EM)