Clifton bounces back in style

Clifton Warrior bounced back to form in the Clonmel Oil Service Station Handicap Hurdle, scoring under Rachael Blackmore for Henry de Bromhead.

Having failed to complete on his last two starts, the six-year-old was installed a 12/1 chance in early shows for this two-mile contest.

Owned by the Warriors Syndicate, he came in for good market-support and eventually went off at just 4/1.

With Pythion soon blazing a trail way out in front, Blackmore was happy to bide her time on the winner as they raced mainly in third.

The front runner saw his lead evaporate on the approach to the second last, with Clifton Warrior taking over in front.

Not fluent at the next, the chestnut victor was soon ridden but sailed over the last and kept on well from there to score by five-lengths.

.Blanketontheground (7/2) ran on well to take second under Michael O'Sullivan for Eoin McCarthy, while Grange Walk (8/1) was another three-parts of a length away in third.

Sent off the 5/2 favourite, West Cork Wildway faded tamely on the approach to the straight and eventually finished a disappointing ninth.

"I'm delighted with that and he was really good," de Bromhead commented.

"He just got lost in Listowel, something jumped into him and he came home sore. We found out he probably prefers that softer ground as well.

"He is not a particularly big horse and we'll keep him going over hurdles for this season. I'll look for a soft-ground, two-mile handicap hurdle somewhere next.

"The syndicate have had horses themselves in the past but he is their first horse with us."

STEWARDS REPORTS

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined West Cork Wildway, trained by Paul O'Flynn, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.

The Stewards requested a report from Henry de Bromhead, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Clifton Warrior (GB), placed first, as compared with its recent run when pulled up at Listowel on the 23rd September. Henry de Bromhead reported that his charge had pulled up at Listowel in a Grade B Extended handicap hurdle on good ground. He felt that the soft underfoot conditions and a drop back in class of contest were contributing factors to today's improved performance. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the content of the report.

At the request of the Stewards, S.D. Torrens, rider of Andys Flame (GB), trained by John C. McConnell, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount struggled to stay with the pace on the downhill run before the straight, then ran both left and right in the straight before passing tired horses near the finish.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes