< Leblon (16-1) will return to Punchestown next month after warming up with a maiden Flat win under Shane Gorey at Clonmel.

She was second to Tarla at the big jumps Festival last April and will bid to go one better in the same Grade Three mares' contest.

John O'Shea's dual hurdle winner put her stamina to excellent use in the two-mile Clonmel Hospice Support Group Maiden, and held on by a head from Greenbelt Star following a protracted duel from the furlong marker.

The disappointment of the race was odds-on favourite The Real Article

Promising rider Sam James continued his good run of form when guiding Vincent Ward's End Of The Affair home in the Sepam Tipperary Perpetual Cup Handicap.

Stepping back up to two miles following an encouraging comeback run at Leopardstown, the 11-2 chance took it up over a furlong out and repelled market leader Oneeightofamile winning by three quarters of a length.

Incidentally, she too could now be headed for the same Punchestown race as Leblon.

Ballachroy came wide and fast to deny Kristal Komet an all-the-way win in the Clonmel Hospice Support Group Handicap, providing trainer Sam Curling with his first winner.

The 7-1 shot had a lot to do as they turned into the straight but Seamie Heffernan got a fine tune out of the gelding and he got up close home to record a half-length win.

Charles Byrnes won as a 1-4 shot should under Davy Russell in the Clonmel Hospice Support Group Maiden Hurdle.

He was disqualified after scoring at Clonmel back in February but defied the subsequent layoff with a comfortable two and a half length defeat of Ninth Legion

Division one of the Clonmel Hospice Support Group Handicap Hurdle went to Terence O'Brien's Viaduct Bud (10-1), while Russell completed a double on the day aboard the Eamonn O'Connell-trained Seamies Dream (9-2) in division two.