King Leon and Jody McGarvey© Photo Healy Racing
Aidan O'Brien sent just the one runner to Clonmel and it paid dividends as King Leon ran out a resolute winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Captain Christy Rated Novice Chase.
Always prominent, the 8-1 shot was pressed for a long way by Jansboy and he was still under threat when jumping the last a length to the good.
Several others were closing, too, but King Leon stuck to his task well in the hands of Jody McGarvey and crossed the line with a length and a half in hand.< Presenting Mahler (6-1) had become a little bit costly to follow but put her best foot forward in the Michael Clune 70th Birthday Celebration Novice Handicap Hurdle.
John Ryan's mare was produced to challenge on the run to two out by Andrew Lynch and she was clear by the last, where a spring-heeled leap sealed a four-length defeat of Give Her Bach
Up-and-coming jockey Donagh Meyler enjoyed his fourth winner in a week in the Kilmore Maiden Hurdle.
Meyler rode a confident race on 5-2 favourite Cliffside Park who cruised into contention at the penultimate flight and strode three lengths clear of Catcheragain < Lettermacaward successfully reverted to timber in the Nire Valley Handicap Hurdle.
The winner of a Ballinrobe beginners chase on his previous outing, Mick Winters' 13-8 favourite had only Arthropod for company over the final two and found most to triumph by a length and a half.< Eyes Of A Tiger justified 10-11 favouritism in the Laganore Maiden Hurdle, but not before he gave his supporters an almighty fright by getting the last wrong.
He was all out to deny Hatch Hall by a short head under Ruby Walsh, who followed up on his only other ride of the day, driving 15-8 market leader Old Castletown home in the Eamon Kearns 50th Birthday Handicap Chase.
Eyes Of A Tiger's trainer Pat Fahy completed a brace of his own when Ten Times Better (7-2) took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race.
