McNamaras get their rub of the Green!

Grade 2 winning hurdler Little Green claimed just her second career win when landing the Main Guard Handicap at Clonmel today for father and son team Eric (trainer) and Emmet (jockey) McNamara.

The winner was held up in mid-division before making headway entering the straight. McNamara forced the mare's head in front inside the final furlong, the pair eventually holding runner-up Ocean Bright by three parts of a length.

A gamble on the J.P. McManus owned Morning Ireland (10s in the morning, returned 3/1f) went badly astray and, to quote Attheraces' colourful Matt Chapman, eventually finished “stone bonking last”.

After the win trainer McNamara stated “hindsight is a great thing but the trip was too sharp for her at Limerick the last day. I thought she was disappointing then but when they passed the line she actually went the whole way up the back straight.

“It's great to get a win on the Flat with her as she's already a Grade 2 winner over hurdles and will be worth a few extra quid as a broodmare now. We'll mix it on the Flat and over hurdles during the summer.”

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee