Review CLONMEL 7TH DEC

Haydens First finally opened her account after eight placed efforts when taking the mares maiden hurdle at Clonmel on Thursday.

The Tom Copper-trained mare stuck to her guns well after going to the lead after three out, under Niall Madden.

Running Wild looked a danger in the straight but couldn't get on terms, going down by three lengths.

'At last she's done it! She deserved that,' said Copper. 'She hasn't run since Galway as she was sick after that. We freshened her up and gave her a break.'

'I said before that win, lose, or draw she would go chasing. There is a mares beginners chase at Limerick over Christmas for her and we'll more than likely still go with the same plan.'

Limerick could also be on the cards for The Parishioner after his victory in the BDBC Building Contractors Handicap Chase.

Andrew McNamara forced the gelding to the front on the run-in to score by three-parts-of-a-length from Bitsandbobs.

'He jumped badly the last day and maybe the slower pace suited,' said trainer's daughter Kay Hourigan.

The Noel Meade-trained Island Life made all for a cosy success in the opening juvenile maiden hurdle.

Paul Carberry's mount had the field struggling before the second last and he kept on for a seven-length verdict over Jack Absolute.

'The blinkers made the difference. Paul was very happy with him - he travelled well and picked up. The ground was very soft,' said Meade's partner Gillian O'Brien.

The start of racing was delayed by ten minutes as only one doctor was on course. Local doctor Peter Merchant was delayed as he was performing surgery at Cashel Hospital.

Johnny Gonzalez also employed front-running tactics to good effect in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle, scoring by two lengths from Ri Na Noileain.

Adrian Joyce partnered his sixth winner in total and his first for boss Tom Taaffe when scoring on Dead Sound in the John Harney Bookmakers Beginners Chase.

The claimer produced the JP McManus-owned gelding to challenge Pom Flyer before the last and he found more on the run-in to score by four-and-a-half lengths.

'I'm delighted for Adrian. That's the first winner he's had for us since he came in May,' said Taaffe.

'We'll keep it low key with him. He didn't work out to be the horse we thought he was last season. He is still finding it hard to find his feet and we'll probably go for a little handicap somewhere with him.'

McManus' colours were carried to victory again when Fourball held off the challenge of I See Icy by a length-and-three-quarters in the Templetuohy Farm Machinery Beginners Chase.

'Pedigree counts for a lot' said Willie Mullins after Tax Exemption, a daughter of Supreme Novice Hurdle winner Tourist Attraction, made a winning debut in the bumper.