Scolardy paid a handsome compliment to his Leopardstown conqueror of last week, Turtleback, when romping away with the Heineken W T O'Grady Memorial Hurdle at Thurles this afternoon.
Backed from 6-4 to 5-4, the second-favourite proved much too good up the home straight for the odd-on Emperors Guest to record a quick double for champion jockey Ruby Walsh and trainer Willie Mullins.
Scolardy will be entered for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, but Mullins revealed he will probably keep the horse in reserve for the Punchestown Festival of Racing in April.
"We gave Scolardy too much to do at Leopardstown last week and he was much better here up with the pace," Mullins said. "We won the Irish version with Holy Orders last season and that's probably the main target now".
Scolardy is a 25-1 chance for Cheltenham with Ladbrokes, but that firm have cut Turtleback, trained like the runner-up by Paddy Mullins, to 20-1.
Scolardy had a 14-length margin of victory, while stablemate Boneyarrow had just the 11 lengths to spare in the opening Cashel Maiden Hurdle over 50-1 outsider Hollygrove Native to initiate the double.
Boneyarrow was returned 9-10 favourite and improved on his close third at Leopardstown last week in stronger company. He was heavily supported beforehand with one leading layer in the ring reporting heavy losses.
