Review clonmel 20th Feb

< Chris's Dream made a sparkling start to his career with Henry de Bromhead by slaughtering his rivals in the Grade Three Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel.

The six-year-old was bought for & pound;175,000 after breaking his duck under Rules at Limerick in December, and his stamina for this three miles was clearly not an issue as Mark Walsh made it a proper test.

His opponents were struggling from some way out, whereas Chris's Dream just went further and further clear, and he crossed the line 64 lengths to the good over 100-1 shot Carrigeen Acebo

The Ballydine Beginners Chase market was dominated by Augustin and Fire In His Eyes and that is how the race ultimately panned out.

Augustin had to work a lot harder than his 1-2 starting price suggested he might, but he had a length and three-quarters to spare over his chief rival at the line.< Countess Cathleen was a place behind Tell Me Annie when fourth at Punchestown last month, but reversed the form in the Surehaul Race Day Mares Maiden Hurdle.

The 11-4 chance had just taken it up when making a mistake at the second-last but got back on an even keel and wore the favourite down to prevail by half a length.

The two fences in the straight were dolled off in the MicrodogID Beginners Chase, but it didn't matter to Freeway Space

The David O'Brien-trained 3-1 shot took the lead off Veneziano Springs at what was the last fence and although she still had the best part of five furlongs to travel, she ran right away to triumph by 21 lengths.< Great Khan (9-2) has knocked loudly on the door and the application of a tongue-tie was what was needed for him to break through, as he saw off Giant Spirit by a length and a half in the Derrygrath Maiden Hurdle.

His jockey Phillip Enright also took the Sporting Press Handicap Chase on Spare Brakes (9-2), while Sunset Sadie sprung a 22-1 surprise in the Minorstown Handicap Hurdle for Eamonn and Eoin O'Connell.