Gowran Report: Both of Willie Mullins's previous Thyestes Chase winners ended up having contrasting fortunes in the Aintree Grand National but it's the Irish version at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday that will be the big target for Homer Wells after he led home a Mullins one-two in yesterday's big race at Gowran.

Homer Wells powered through the glue-pot conditions to beat his stable companion Livingstonebramble by three and a half lengths after a gruelling battle from the second last.

Livingstonebramble briefly headed Homer Wells after that penultimate obstacle, only for the dour staying Homer Wells to be back in front at the last, and although a stewards inquiry was held into the pair bumping on the run in, Davy Condon's mount was well in charge at the line.

Not unnaturally, a delighted Mullins didn't look overly concerned when the inquiry was announced and immediately nominated the Irish National at Easter for his winner if conditions are suitable.

"He'll be entered for some of the handicaps at Cheltenham but he does need soft ground and he might not get it there. The Irish National is the obvious race for him - if he gets cut," the former champion trainer said.

Mullins used the Thyestes as a warm-up before Hedgehunter's first run in the Aintree National, when he fell at the last, and it was also won by Micko's Dream in 2000 before he went to Liverpool and fell at the first!

There wasn't even a semblance of a mistake by Homer Wells yesterday, however, and he provided his 22-year-old jockey with the biggest National Hunt success of his career.

"I won a couple of Listed races on Holy Orders on the flat, and also an Irish Cambridgeshire," Condon explained.

"He felt like a different horse today and jumped like a buck. I couldn't believe how well he was going."

Conor O'Dwyer has had many memorable days over the jumps but the veteran jockey performed something of a clean sweep yesterday when his three rides of the day won the first three races.

They included the 25 to 1 Cogans Lake who landed the handicap hurdle for his trainer Kieran Purcell, the former triple-All-Ireland winning hurler, and the 20 to 1 Madroos who provided Jim Culloty with a second success as a trainer in the juvenile hurdle.

"We bought him out of John Dunlop's yard because we thought he would like Irish soft ground," explained Culloty.

"I might be dreaming slightly but that uphill finish at Cheltenham might suit him and we will consider the Fred Winter at the festival."

However, it was another of O'Dwyer's former riding colleagues, Adrian Maguire, who provided him with his most significant success as Celestial Wave again made all the running to win the Grade Three Galmoy Hurdle.

The star mare had five lengths in hand of Studmaster at the line and afterwards, Maguire again stressed that soft ground will be vital if Celestial Wave is to run in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

"We don't want to do wrong by her and run her on unsuitable ground," Maguire said. "But I'll still be glued to the television on Saturday watching Black Jack Ketchum."

The World Hurdle sponsors left Celestial Wave unchanged at 12 to 1 for the festival after yesterday but significantly, Cashmans now quote her at 7 to 1 "with a run."

"She's a helluva mare to make all on that ground," was O'Dwyer's verdict before he left for home after the first three races.

"Unfortunately, that's it. I've no spin in the Thyestes. But I'm happy with these few!"

Snowy Morning earned 25 to 1 quotes for the SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham after his novice success where Ruby Walsh's biggest problem in the closing stages was his mount's reluctance to stop veering to his left.

"He'll also be entered for the four mile at Cheltenham and he will prefer better ground and spring weather," said Willie Mullins.

Stradbrook started favourite to advertise his Cheltenham claims in the bumper but after a less than clear run in the straight, he had to settle for third behind Singh On Song.

Walsh made to wait to land 100th winner

Ruby Walsh started this week on the 99 winner mark in Ireland but had to ride two more winners at Gowran Park yesterday to reach the century mark for the season.

Walsh, who has also had 52 victories in Britain, reached with a treble at Fairyhouse on Sunday. But he then lost one on Tuesday when a Turf Club inquiry disqualified Bobs Pride, a Walsh "winner" in November, for running with a prohibited substance.

Some punters were caught out after Snowy Morning landed the novice chase yesterday and cheered the "century" horse into the winners enclosure. However, it was Bluestone Lad's success in the handicap chase half an hour later that really completed the champion jockey's 100. "It took two after Bobs Pride losing his race," grinned Walsh. "I've ridden plenty of good ones this season but Brave Inca (December Festival Hurdle) probably stands out."