Kennady (Mikey Doran) takes the bumper© Photo Healy Racing
< Champagne Fever returned to action with a sparkling performance in the Clonmel Oil Chase.
The dual Cheltenham Festival hero was sent off the 8-11 in the Grade Two contest and was going well under Paul Townend at the head off affairs turning for home, which was when veteran Sizing Europe began to struggle.
The favourite only had Realt Mor to worry heading into the penultimate fence and when that rival blundered badly, Willie Mullins' runner went well clear to record a comfortable six-length victory over Alderwood who stayed on for second.
Mullins kicked off the afternoon with a winner as Killultagh Vic made a smooth transition to jumping with a comfortable victory in I.N.H. Stallion Owners E.B.F. Maiden Hurdle.
A smart bumper performer last year, the five-year-old was soon in front and jumping well as he scored by four and half lengths from Virtuoso Rouge with the ease his odds of 1-4fav suggested he would.< Jennies Jewel relished the testing conditions when battling to a game victory in the E.B.F. T.A. Morris Memorial Mares Chase.
The Jarlath Fahey-trained 8-1 shot entered the home straight in the Grade Three event alongside frontrunner Pollywollydoodle and proved too strong for the long-time leader in the finish, pulling four and a half lengths clear at the line.
The two British raiders, the Nicky Henderson-trained favourite Une Artiste and Lucy Wadham's Baby Shine never threatened to land a blow.
Clara McCloud (4-1fav) regained the winning thread in the Clonmel Oil Service Station Handicap Hurdle.
Always going well for Barry Geraghty, Gordon Elliott's charge picked up nicely after the last to score by three lengths from the staying-on Tulsa Jack < Pumbaa made every yard of the running in the Prior Park Service Station Clonmel Handicap Chase, justifying 11-10 favouritism by four and a quarter lengths from Spot Fine < The Bold Beckey (4-1) saw off the challenge of Stay With It to run out a six-length winner of the Clonmel Oil Race Day Handicap Hurdle under 7lb claimer Shane Crimin.
There was a surpri
