O`DWYER INJURY WORRIES WHILE MULLINS FAMILY DOMINATE PROCEEDINGS AT THURLES

Conor O'Dwyer will have to undergo x-rays and extensive physio to his neck if he is to take the mount on Arthur Moore's The Gatherer in Sunday's featured Pierse Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown.

O'Dwyer was travelling well on stable-companion Glenelly Gale in the opening 2m novice chase at Thurles when the 6/4 chance unseated him five fences from home virtually handing the contest to front-running Balla Sola.

'Conor is going for x-rays for a neck muscular injury and if they are ok he`ll then have extensive physio to get the problem sorted. If he`s ok after that he`ll be passed to ride at Leopardstown,' said Turf club doctor Walter Halley.

Willie Mullins has the IR#45,000 Arkle Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday week in mind for the Top Cat Syndicate-owned Balla Sola, who also scored at Thurles on his hurdling debut two years ago before running his best race to date at Cheltenham when chasing home Katarino in the Triumph Hurdle.

Mullins later nominated the 4m NH Chase at Cheltenham for Knights Of Kerry, who justified favouritism to help himself to a 97/1 four-timer and Ruby Walsh to a treble, despite several errors throughout the three-mile journey of the beginner's chase.

A first racecourse winner for breeder, ace photographer Liam Healy from Listowel, the 6-Y-O, a winner between the flags at Brough last year, was providing the former champion rider with his 58th success of the current campaign.

'He'll be better on better ground and hopefully his jumping will improve on it also,' concluded Mullins who also reported Florida Pearl 'in sparkling form' and on course for the Hennessy next month while Tryphaena will be his sole representative in Sunday's Pierse Hurdle with Ruby Walsh in the plate.

Cork firm Cashmans take no chances with Knights Of Kerry for Cotswolds honours quoting the Step Together gelding at 8/1 for the NH Chase in March.

Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh combined to complete a near 51/1 treble in the penultimate 2m4f handicap hurdle with 8/1 shot Supreme Schemer. Owned in partnership by Dr Brendan Doyle and Red Mills chief Joe Connolly, the winner came from the rear with a circuit to race to sweep into the lead on the run to the final flight for a 3/4L victory over a game Leopard Rock.

'The tongue tie first time made the difference today and he'll go next for a another handicap,' said Willie Mullins who completed a memorable afternoon when newcomer Assessed won the concluding bumper under Philip Fenton.

'You?d definitely know where you can't go today,' remarked David Casey after the Waterford rider scored on the Tony Mullins-trained 3/1market leader Be Home Early in the Carrick Hill Handicap Chase.

Casey, who on Thursday appeals the two day ban incurred at Thurles last week for taking the wrong course which resulted in his runaway scorer Alcapone losing the race in the stewards room, added,

'There is a big white diagonal rail after the fence which is a big help. However, if your horse was hanging he could still veer to the right of it on to the wrong course but it's a lot better out there compared to the last day.'

The Mullins' domination also applied to the fourth race, the 2m maiden hurdle, when Tony completed a double with pillar-to-post victor Five Of Hearts and Charlie Swan.

'She was very sick after winning her bumper in Killarney last July and Charlie said she hated the heavy ground. We'll step her up in grade to see if she is what we hope she could be,' said the Gowran handler.

Swan later completed a brace to bring his tally to 41 in the saddle (29 training ) when keeping the former Paddy Mullins inmate Murolook up to his task to defeat Native Beat in the maiden hurdle. BF