Thursday 8 December 2016 14:37, UK
News of the action from Clonmel where Crack Mome put his name in the hat for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Crack Mome landed the odds in the Clonmel Maiden Hurdle for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh.
Already prominent in the ante-post betting for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, he jumped accurately for much of the contest.
Not surprisingly for a horse having just the second run of his life, he looked green at times, and while he never really looked in danger of getting beaten, his task was made easier by the last flight fall of Blast Of Koeman.
Sent off the 30/100 favourite, he was cut to 12/1 from 14s for the Supreme by sponsors Sky Bet after winning by three and a quarter lengths.
Mullins said: "It was a very good performance from that guy and I'm really happy with the way he jumped out of that ground - Ruby said it was proper soft. That will bode well for the future.
"The minimum trip is enough for him and I don't think he'll have to go much further. Ruby also passed a remark that he was very green so I'm hoping there will be improvement all round."
Sky Bet's Racing PR Manager Michael Shinners said: "We're starting to see Willie Mullins' horses exert their by now customary dominance on the ante-post market for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
"This was an encouraging start to Crack Mome's career and he's now 12/1 third favourite with ourselves behind Moon Racer and Jenkins. Mullins tends to run his crack novice in the Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle so it will be interesting to see if Crack Mome is selected for that race next month."
Mullins and Walsh completed a double with Clondaw Warrior, who made a convincing return to winning ways in the Jim Strang & Sons Kilsheelan (Peugeot) Hurdle.
The nine-year-old bounced back to form with his batteries recharged thanks to a break after a disappointing run on the Flat in the Doncaster Cup in September.
He had been in great form before then, landing the Galway Hurdle and finishing second in the American St Leger.
Walsh held the 5/6 favourite well off the early pace set by Val De Ferbet and Taglietelle before taking closer order from three out.
Clondaw Warrior cruised up to join Val De Ferbet at the last as Taglietelle lost his place before easily pulling clear to score by five and a half lengths.
"Going on his Flat form I was hoping that a step up in trip would suit. I hadn't bargained on the soft ground but he handled it against these," he said.
"He didn't do any more than the ratings would suggest and we might look at staying at this trip. He could run in the three-mile race at Leopardstown over Christmas (Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle) and I'll see what else we have in it but it would be a nice race for him.
"No other race came up for him so I decided 'why not three miles'? On his form on the Flat he could be better over three miles.
"There is also a two-mile race for him at Dubai on World Cup Day, for a million. He doesn't disgrace himself when he does travel but he could have a little bit of jumping to do first."
