Arkwrisht springs surprise in Clonmel

Arkwrisht caused an upset and completed a Clonmel double for his trainer, Willie Mullins, when emphatically reversing previous form with Westend Star in the Grade Three Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle.

One of three Gigginstown House Stud-owned runners in the race, and the lesser fancied of the two from his own stable, he didn’t jump with fluency, but Ruby Walsh made a forward move on the far side, and that put the 12-1 in pole position.

Stablemate Stone Hard briefly looked threatening, as did Westend Star, but Walsh had matters at hand, and drove his mount to a two-and-a-half-length victory.