Alpha Des Obeaux repaid connections faith with a no-nonsense straightforward success in the Clonmel Oil Chase for well-regarded trainer Mouse Morris.

After early pacesetters Tiger Roll and Champagne West blazed a frantic trail but were unable to keep up the gallop and dropped away tamely, the race was between three Gigginstown House Stud owned horses and it was Alpha Des Obeaux who stayed on the best with jockey Sean Flanagan in the saddle effortlessly pulling five and a half lengths clear of A Toi Phil.

Morris, winning the race for a third time after Belvederian and War Of Attrition, said of the 7/1 winner: “He had run two good races this year and my horses, the ones that are capable enough, are all running well this year also.

“He was sick last year, but hasn’t run a bad race this season - he hasn’t burst like he did in the spring.

“I’d say he could go back to handicaps now, but I’ll see what the lads (O’Learys) want to do. The year before last he was always just falling a bit short (at Grade One level) and is just that bit short of the real McCoy.”

The winner was having his third outing of the season having chase home Total Recall in the Munster National and finished fourth behind Outlander in the JNwine.com Champion Chase.

Galway Plate winner Balko Des Flos was well supported on course, going off the 11/10 favourite. He far to keenly and after a mistake at the last with a circuit to go his jumping lacked fluency. He still travelled well turning for home but couldn’t pick up before the second last and plugged on to finish third.