Declan Lavery was back in the headlines, at Clonmel today when steering Conflated to victory in the concluding bumper at the Tipperary venue.

Lavery found himself one of the big stories at the Cheltenham festival when banned for ten days after finishing third on Jerrysback in the National Hunt Chase.

Just five days after a successful appeal against that ruling he shone on the tricky Conflated as he guided the Gordon Elliott-trained gelding to success.

The 11/1 shot was settled in behind the leaders in the two-miler before being pulled out to challenge a furlong-and-a-half from home.

The Gigginstown-owned Yeats gelding quickened into the lead over a furlong out and kept on well in the closing stages to record a length-and-a-quarter win over Sneaky Getaway

Lavery said afterwards:- "He is very tricky but is starting to get the hang of things now and is starting to relax. He is not hanging now and has lots of ability.

"I'd say when he gets a hurdle in front of him he'll be better again. He'll go on most grounds but wouldn't want it any quicker."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)