Tommydan wins dramatic Clonmel opener

Tommydan (20/1) won Clonmel's dramatic opening Marlfield Opportunity Maiden Hurdle today as winning jockey Ambrose McCurtin avoided leader Karakhan s premature exit through the wing of the final hurdle.

Left-hanging Karakhan, under jockey Shane Mulcahy, held the narrow lead after the second last flight but veered off-course approaching the last and dramatically ducked-out through the wing of that final obstacle.

Jockey McCurtin and Tommydan were chasing Karakhan in the home straight but switched right to avoid the wayward leader approaching the last. On the run-in Tommydan got the better of runner-up General Clermont

It was a first racecourse winner since November 2011 (Limerick winner Tell Dawstown) for predominantly point-to-point trainer Debbie Hartnett and afterwards reported “Ambrose was fantastic on him and must have seen the other horse (Karakhan) coming.

“His owner Dan Creedon, from Macroom, fell off something and hurt his back and can't be here but bad as it is, he's probably falling off the chair at home! He'll be thrilled as he bred the horse, took him to the sales and couldn't sell him.

“He ran in a Claimer at Limerick the last day where I thought he ran very well, but you couldn't claim the devil. He's a funny horse and you wouldn't ride him out on your own at home. You wouldn't get out of the yard but once you get him going he has loads of ability.

“The six year olds weren't allowed run in the point-to-points earlier in the year and that's why we came down the track route and we fancied him today.”

The Cork based trainer added “it's been too long since our last winner but we don't bring many to the track and only have two to run. We mostly buy and sell point-to-pointers.

“It is very hard to compete for a small yard but I am thrilled to bits.”