Review clonmel 20th Feb Willie Mullins enjoyed a double at Clonmel, culminating in Don Poli's victory in the feature race on the card, the Grade Three Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle.Though not necessarily travelling smoothly throughout for Bryan Cooper, the 9-2 chance swept to the front on the home turn and jumped the second-last in front.Keeping up the gallop well, Mullins' charge came home three and a quarter lengths clear of Goonyella.Rubi Light's return to the hurdling ranks ended in heavy defeat as he trailed home last behind Mullins' Perfect Gentleman in the Munster Hurdle.The 5-2 chance was kept close enough to the pace by the handler's son Patrick and after hitting the front two out, he stretched clear to score by four and a quarter lengths from Our Katie.Daliyan looked a hurdler of some potential when easing to victory in the Clonmel Maiden Hurdle.Rodger Sweeney's 11-8 favourite travelled beautifully in the hands of the trainer's son Colman, coming home three lengths clear of Desertmore Stream.The Sweeneys' hopes of a double were dashed when Foolish Notions could only manage third behind Snowell in the Bishop Auckland Theatre Hooligans (QR) Handicap Hurdle.The Liz Doyle-trained 9-2 favourite made a menacing move on the home turn and led at the second last under Johnny Burke, before putting in a slick leap at the last to beat Roman Numeral by three and three-quarter lengths.Claire Pet (11-2) landed the Demesne Maiden Hurdle in the hands of Mick Darcy, outgunning the pacesetter Corporate Box after the last to score by two and three-quarter lengths.Drunken Counsel (7-2) showed a fair turn of foot to sweep into the lead in the Powerstown INH Flat Race and, kept up to his work by Nina Carberry, he came home four lengths to the good over favourite Most Peculiar.
