Review clonmel 22nd Dec

Classy chaser Vroum Vroum Mag made a seamless switch to the smaller obstacles in the Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Mares Hurdle at Clonmel.

Unbeaten since joining Willie Mullins, the 1-16 market leader was never too far from the lead under Ruby Walsh, who sent her on well before the penultimate flight.

Jumping sweetly over a trip short of her optimum, Vroum Vroum Mag didn't have to come out of second gear to stroll three lengths clear of Mrs Mac Veale with the promise of so much more to come.

Mullins unleashed yet another exciting French import, with Bello Conti impressing on his Irish debut in the Clonmel Maiden Hurdle.

The 8-13 favourite was sent to the front on the long run to two out and although still a bit green and slightly awkward at the final obstacle, he had far too much quality for a good yardstick in the shape of Madfuninthewest scoring by seven and a half lengths.< A Toi Phil was long odds-on to give Mullins a treble in the Next Meeting Thursday February 4th (Q.R.) (C & G) Maiden Hurdle but blew his chance when running out at the bend shortly after the start.

At the business end, For Freddie (33-1) led two out en route to a three-and-three-quarter-length defeat of Lets High Five It < Outofcologne (12-1) left all known form a long way behind in the Powerstown Handicap Hurdle.

The six-year-old had shown precious little on her previous six starts but made every post a winning one on her debut for Liz Doyle and the line came in time as she held off Summers King by half a length.

Leading conditional Donagh Meyler took the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle on Ice Cool (9-4 favourite), but the meeting was reduced to just the five races, with the weather claiming the two scheduled chases.