Dorans Pride has built up a rich association with the Morris Oil Chase at Clonmel, and yesterday Michael Hourigan's prolific scorer landed the race for the third successive year. The contest turned into a match as Dorans Pride, partnered for the first time by Paul Hourigan, and His Song and Adrian Maguire swept past long-time leader Padre Mio rounding the home turn. After jumping the last, however, Dorans Pride soon took command.

"I'm delighted for my son Paul as he's come on board in the latter days of a very good horse. This horse has stood the test of time and I'd say he won't run again until the Ericcson," said Hourigan.

Jordan boss Eddie Jordan and his wife Marie turned up to watch their horse, Somemanforoneman, line up in the three-mile handicap hurdle, but much to their disappointment, he trailed in 10th behind Change The Script after making the running until the third-last flight. The horse was later found to have a respiratory infection. Maguire certainly had luck on his side later when scoring on 12 to 1 shot Brownie Returns in the handicap chase. Carrigeen Lily, backed from 9 to 4 to 6 to 4 favourite, was travelling well under Neil Mulholland approaching the second last when they were hindered slightly by a loose horse, forcing them to crash. Truckingabout also fell independently, leaving Maguire with the luxury of coming home a distance clear of Nervous Kate.

Paul Carberry oozed confidence throughout the two-mile handicap hurdle on Tryphaena before producing Willie Mullins's versatile filly with a perfectlytimed run to put her head in front close home.

Dennis Leahy, who spent several years attached to Jenny Pitman's Lambourn yard, recorded his first success since returning home to his native Cork when scoring aboard 9 to 1 shot Chapel Road in the maiden hurdle.

Chapel Road seized the initiative over the third flight and shrugged off warm favourite Galeogan after the second last to come home with seven lengths to spare at the line. There was a dramatic conclusion to the bumper when Knockawad drifted towards the stands rail a furlong out, ducked left and unshipped rider John Moore when racing virtually alongside the eventual winner, Scary Spice.