Thurles Report:Hi Cloy showed he is on target for the English Grand National by bouncing back to form at Thurles yesterday.
The 11-year-old went one better than 12 months ago to win the MacLochlainn Road Markings Ltd Kinloch Brae Chase in good style.
Revitalised by first-time blinkers, he jumped into the lead at the fourth-last and kept on strongly for Tom Doyle.
The 6 to 1 shot, trained by Michael Hourigan, came home three and a half lengths clear of One Cool Cookie, with Knight Legend a neck away in third.
"He made a fool of me in the King George at Kempton. He didn't travel and never jumped a fence, but he worked at home on Tuesday and changed back to what he was," said Hourigan.
"His long-term aim is the Grand National - he jumps and he stays. Ginger McCain tried to buy him and he knows what it takes to win the race.
"I trained Amberleigh House in his early days before Ginger and Hi Cloy is better than he was.
"He'll be near the top of the handicap at Aintree, but he'll probably go there and he could go for the Red Mills at Gowran before that."
Cashmans cut Hi Cloy to 20 to 1 from 33 to 1 for Aintree.
The Willie Mullins-trained Hedgehunter, the 2005 Grand National hero, finished a creditable fifth after setting the pace with Central House, while his stable companion, Rule Supreme, never got into contention but plugged on to finish seventh of the eight runners.
Mullins was delighted with the performance of both his horses. "I was very happy with Hedgehunter and he'll go for the Hennessy at Leopardstown next (February 10th)," he said.
"Ruby (Walsh) was delighted with Rule Supreme. He put in a couple of bad jumps and two and a half miles is not his trip. The Hennessy might come a little too soon for him."
However, Mullins and Walsh teamed up to land a double with Cooldine and Pomme Tiepy.
The latter landed the odds in great style in the Coolmore National Hunt Sires EBF Mares Novice Chase.
Overtaking long-time leader Pip 'N Pop after jumping the third-last fence, Pomme Tiepy (8 to 11) pulled 24 lengths clear without being asked a serious question.
Pip 'N Pop battled on well to claim second place, with All Heart third.
Cooldine (5 to 4 joint-favourite) earned a quote of 12 to 1 for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival following his victory in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle.
