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Review CLONMEL 6TH SEP

John Long, a restricted licence holder near Adare, saddled his first winner when Itsaboy bravely held off the challenge of top-weight Persian Return in the 2m4f handicap hurdle.

Richie Kiely, recording his third winner in recent days, produced the six-year-old gelding to lead two out before getting serious on the run-in to hold on by a diminishing head.

Long, who bred staying chaser Garvivonian which is also owned by his wife Angela, took out a licence just over 12 months ago and has two horses for the track plus six in point-to-points.

Ruby Walsh's relentless march towards another jockeys' title continues apace, and he was seen to typically good effect aboard Piltown in the juvenile maiden hurdle.

This race appeared a virtual match beforehand with Joe Crowley's charge bidding to reverse previous Tramore placings with Golden Future.

Walsh's mount jumped past his market-rival at the last to score by a length and three quarters, with the pair pulling 19 lengths clear of the remainder.

'Ruby gave him a great ride although I thought we wouldn't reverse placings with Golden Future. He probably preferred that track as Tramore's a bit tight,' said Crowley, who now has a winners race at the Listowel Festival in mind.

Walsh is still 22 ahead (56-34) of Davy Russell who was also successful aboard the well-backed 13/8 favourite Gravely Pint in the two miles maiden hurdle.

The Carroll House gelding quickened past Rose Of Clare after the final flight to win by a length.

'He may go for a novice race at Listowel, and hopefully the ground will still be on the goodish side as he won't go on the soft,' said trainer Eoin Griffin.

On the Flat section of the card, Rising Force made up for a narrow defeat at Bellewstown last month by making no mistake in the 10f handicap to put Pat Smullen on the 60 winner mark for the season.

The Dermot Weld-trained gelding, an easy-to-back 11/4 favourite, quickened up impressively approaching the final furlong and drew clear to beat Ashlight by five lengths.

Robbie Burke got a late call up to ride second reserve Aura Of Calm in the 12f handicap, and the journey south proved more than worthwhile as the gelding swooped late.

The gelding didn't enjoy the clearest of runs early in the straight but made up at least 6L so quickly inside the final furlong that Burke could relax close home to beat Still Going On by 1 3/4L.

'I was sitting down to a bit of lunch at one o'clock when my agent Dave Keena rang with the ride. He showed an enormous turn of foot to get there,' said a delighted Burke.

Extra Gold justified strong support from 11/4 down to 7/4 favourite in the ten furlongs apprentice claimer, scoring in fine style under Rory Cleary.

The Michael Halford-trained filly led well over a furlong out and stayed on well to beat Glasog by 2 1/2L, with the slowly away Grey Desert the same distance further back in third.

Wayne Lordan recorded his 32nd winner of the year when sending Dalucci to the front early in the straight for a three lengths success over Dolce Dovo in the ten furlongs maiden.

Running Late (6/4-2/1) was the fifth successful favourite on the day when stretching clear in the straight for Donie Fahy to beat newcomer Holy Road by 7L.

Alan Magee