Clonmel Report After surviving a 7.30 inspection, Clonmel today successfully managed to run five of their races before deteriorating ground saw the sixth and seventh abandoned.Very much the man in the news with a four-timer the previous day, Davy Russell kept up the good work when guiding McGruders Cross to justify favouritism in the two mile one furlong beginners chase. Leading from two out, the Tony Mullins-trained son of Toulon was soon clear on the way to a five length win. This injury plagued seven-year-old now has the Leopardstown Festival on his agenda. Robbie Moran will also look back on this two day meet with fondness and following Lakil Princess on Wednesday, the Wexford pilot made it two on Ring Of Beara in the handicap chase.Third in the 2004 Land Rover Bumper, this fellow did not cover himself in glory on the racecourse proper since before taking a brace of point-to-points this autumn.Returning to action under Rules, Robert Tyner's representative dug deep after the bypassed final fence to hold the gallant top-weight and favourite, Brave Eagle, by a neck.Fifteen previous efforts, both on the flat and over flights had failed to yield a victory but crucially Orpen Guama handles testing ground well as he proved in the opener.Making all under Denis O'Regan, John Gleeson's 7/1 shot jumped the last better than the challenging Undergraduate, staying on for a length win. He may now contest the big juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown on St. Stephens Day.Similarly Nina Carberry obviously had the height of confidence in her partner half an hour later, getting on with things out in front on market-leader, Celestial Wave, and she never saw another rival on the way to a six length success.Adrian Maguire trains this one and he said, 'she is a very good mare and I would have been disappointed if she hadn't won. She might go for a Mares Listed Hurdle at Leopardstown.'Twice victorious in point-to-points, Nine O had taken some time to display that form on the track but he has really hit form now and he followed up on his Thurles win in the handicap hurdle.Leading from the sixth in the hands of Michael Darcy, the Seamus Braddish-trained eight-year-old stayed on dourly to beat Gimli's Fury by a length. Limerick at Christmas will see him bid for three wins in a row. Also-rans, Leamybe in the second and Precious Memories in the third were later found to be clinically abnormal.
