Days comes good in Clonmel opener

Ancient Days finally opened his account after a sequence of placed efforts when taking the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle at a rain-soaked Clonmel.

Andrew McNamara sent the Daylami gelding to the front three out but soon faced a real battle as Shazner (18/1) loomed alongside and took it up entering the straight.

However the 9/4 favourite dug deep for McNamara and, after getting away from the last that bit quicker than his rival, kept on well on the run-in to score by a length and three quarters.

The first reserve Noble Pageant (8/1) kept on well under pressure in the closing stages to be another half-length adrift in third.

Winning trainer John Queally commented afterwards, “We have no fancy aspirations but he’ll jump a fence in time.”

Andrew McNamara said, “The ground is heavier than I expected. There is fresh ground but it’s cutting up. He struggled coming down the hill but in fairness he did well to win.

“He can be competitive off his handicap mark (112) on better ground.”

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes