TOM TAAFFE, very much looking forward to throwing down the gauntlet to Beef Or Salmon with Kicking King in Saturday’s James Nicholson at Down Royal, was on the mark at Clonmel yesterday when Man About Town justified favouritism in the John Costigan Memorial Novice Hurdle.

RATHGAR BEAU, back on his favourite track, totally outclassed his rivals to land the Holycross Novice ’Chase at Thurles yesterday. He survived a very scary moment at the final fence, however, when well clear.