Clondaw pushed all the way at Leopardstown

Long odds-on favourite Clondaw Court was made to pull out all the stops as he got up right on the line in the Bookmakers Bar At Bewleys Hotel Leopardstown Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The imposing six-year-old was a 27-length winner of a Punchestown bumper in November of last year and although he has been sidelined since, he was still expected to take care of five opponents in what looked a surprisingly weak contest.

The Willie Mullins-trained 2-9 chance travelled powerfully for much of the two-and-a-quarter-mile journey, but looked in serious trouble as Ruby Walsh got to work from the home turn.

Little Rocky looked sure to win as he approached the final flight, but despite an untidy leap, Clondaw Court began to bridge the gap on the run-in and got up by a head under a power-packed Walsh ride.

Mullins said: "I'm happy that he won, but we probably should have made the running with him, to make more use of him.

"I haven't talked to Ruby or Rich (Ricci, owner) yet, but I would think we will be stepping him up in trip to two and a half miles plus from now on."

Western Boy made a winning start to his jumping career with a smart display under David Casey in the Thorntons Recycling Hurdle.

Fresh from opening his bumper account at the fourth attempt at Thurles last month, Pat Fahy's four-year-old was a 12-1 shot, with Daneking the 5-2 favourite for Mullins and Walsh.

The latter cut out much of the running, but had no answer when Western Boy quickened up to lead approaching the final flight.

Fahy's charge galloped all the way to the line to score by three and a half lengths, with Kylestyle grabbing the runner-up spot from Daneking.

Casey said: "He is a nice horse. He has solid bumper form and he jumped well.

"I didn't intend being in front so early but he kept galloping. Pat is in Limerick I think, and his horses are in good form."

Red-hot favourite Analifet was pulled up after just three flights of hurdles as Guitar Pete claimed victory in the Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle.

The Mullins-trained Analifet had been hugely impressive on her first two Irish starts at Punchestown and Fairyhouse and was the 3-10 favourite to complete a hat-trick in this Grade Two contest.

Clarcam was left to lead the remaining four runners, but Dessie Hughes' Guitar Pete (9-2) had far more to give in the straight and pulled clear in the hands of Bryan Cooper to score by seven lengths.

Hughes said: "He is a smashing little horse. I brought him over to Cheltenham and he ran a cracker there on his last start.

"He has a good, tough pedigree and he will go back to Cheltenham now, for either the Triumph or the Fred Winter, but he will probably have another run before then."

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