A 44/1 double for Curragh trainer, Patrick Prendergast and rider Niall McCullagh, was the main talking point to emerge from a seven race card of mixed action at Clonmel yesterday.
After an encouraging debut last term, Senseansensibility set the ball rolling in the first. The quietly supported 4/1 shot got the better of favourite Tanwir, inside the final hundred yards of the mile two maiden.
Prendergast commented on his first winner of the year, 'my horses have been quite sick but hopefully they are coming out of it now,' before he rushed off to saddle Val Di Cecina for the thirty three to sixty handicap.
He described that one as having a 'squeak,' and how right he was proved as the joint top weight kept going in game style, after leading entering the straight, to beat the fast finishing Insignificance.
Currently in the process of changing yards, Prendergast said of Val Di Cecina, 'she tries hard and she's honest.' Cathy Gannon and Jamie Moriarty were both unscathed after taking tumbles on the home turn.
Feature event of the evening, the Tipperary Cup went to the Willie Mullins-trained Raikkonen. The bottom weight stayed on really well to shrug off the attentions of Corrib Boy by a length.
The Tadhg O'Shea ridden winner who has had a 'hard winter' according to Mullins will now have a break before being brought back to be campaigned in the latter part of the summer.
Out of luck in that race with Max Time, Iggy Madden didn't have long to dwell on the defeat, as his Wests Awake came home a convincing four length victor of the following handicap chase.
Keith Hadnett struck for home early on the final circuit on the well-bred gelding and stayed on well in the straight to hold Adolphus. Fairyhouse in a few weeks time could be the next stop for the eight-year-old.
Backers of 11/8 favourite, High Day were left to rue their misfortune, as Pat Murphy's mount fell at the last with the maiden hurdle in the bag, leaving Robbie Osborne's Lesath and David Maher to triumph.
With 8/1 co favourites of seven, the handicap hurdle looked an open race beforehand, but Princess Alannah made a mockery of such a suggestion as she streaked home to win by three and a half lengths.
Trainer Eamonn Sheehy admitted that he 'half-fancied' the Shay Barry ridden mare and she could make a quick reappearance in a chase at Killarney next week.
Tom Mullins has begun his training career in flying form and he made it winner number two when Habihat came out best in the bumper under Niall Madden.
