Clondaw Warrior stakes his claim for the World Hurdle

The decision to step Clondaw Warrior up in trip was not the most difficult one for Willie Mullins to make, and it was rewarded as the globetrotting son of Overbury made his first try at the three-mile trip a winning one in the conditions hurdle.

Ruby Walsh was as patient as one would have expected him to be, especially as Davy Russell on front-running second-favourite Val De Ferbet did his best to stretch him in the last half-mile, but ultimately it was comfortable for the winner. The manner in which he was blowing afterwards suggested he really needed the run, which makes it even more impressive. Paddy Power gave him a 16-1 quote for the World Hurdle and that could well be the direction he heads.

Results and analysis