Clondaw Warrior© Photo Healy Racing
Champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins does very well with his Flat runners and the Closutton maestro looks set for further success at Roscommon when Clondaw Warrior is set to go off at prohibitive odds in the Sean Cleary Memorial Handicap.
The seven-year-old was a very promising sort a few seasons back, winning three bumpers and a maiden hurdle for Shark Hanlon and, following a 12-month absence and a switch to the Mullins yard, made a mockery of his lowly mark of 52 on the Flat at Tramore on Saturday evening.
The son of Overbury stretched clear in the straight for an effortless eight-length verdict and, even over this quarter-mile shorter trip and with a slight concern about the 'bounce factor', this can surely be notched as yet another success for championship leader Pat Smullen.
Elsewhere on the Flat section of the seven-race mixed card Tony Martin is another leading jumps trainer who could be on the mark with Woodsophiesmile in the Pyramid Bookmakers Fillies Handicap.
Galway Plate hero Shane Shortall takes a valuable 7lb off the top-weight's back, and this 10-furlong trip appears ideal.
He needed every yard of the mile when successful at the Curragh back in May and, following two outings on testing ground, a mile and a half was probably just too far when returning there for a valuable handicap on Irish Derby weekend.
Ger Lyons and Colin Keane can continue their profitable season by taking the opening Roscommon Auction Race with Belle Et Bete
The Big Bad Bob filly is obviously held in some regard by connections as she contested a Group Three event before appreciating a drop in class to score in runaway fashion over this trip at Down Royal.
The reopposing Enter The Priory was over eight lengths adrift in second and, unless one of the newcomers is an above average sort, Belle Et Bete should follow up.
The concluding Athleague Hurdle has attracted just four runners but is nonetheless a fascinating betting heat for punters. Waaheb has failed to reach the heights promised earlier in his career and, with Klepht and Seefood both reverting from fences, perhaps Clara Mc Cloud can take advantage in receipt of all the allowances.
