McNamara doubles up on Diamond Dame

Andrew McNamara, successful an hour earlier aboard Mrs Mac Veale completed a 41.5/1 double at Thurles as Diamond Dame justified 6/4 favouritism in the Holycross Handicap Hurdle.

The Shark Hanlon-trained mare repeated the feat of earlier winner Embracing Change by adding a success at this meeting to one gained at Clonmel last Thursday.

The five-year-old led away from the penultimate flight but was far from foot perfect at the last.

McNamara needed to get serious in the closing stages as Flemerelle stayed on well under pressure on the run-in, and the pair were separated by just a head at the line. Cloudy Morning was a further two and a half lengths back in third, with Fort Carson staying on nicely in fourth.

Hanlon said, "This was the plan from last week but Limerick on Sunday is now out the window. She is a lot better on good ground and might have one or two more runs at Dundalk before being left off. She's only rated 60 on the flat.

"Andrew said she pulled too hard today and then idled when she got to the front."

Regarding Hidden Cyclone, he said "He is in super form and comes here in a fortnight (November 20) for a two and a half miles chase.

"My horses have been in super form and that's my 18th winner since March but I've only eight horses for the winter."

(TW & AM)