Bates records first double on Diamond Declan Bates was seen to great effect when recording his first double as Hidden Diamond, a first jump winner for Kill trainer Maria Kelly, got up in the closing stages of thetote.com Beginners Chase at Clonmel. There was less of a premium on jumping in the two and a half miles event as the two fences in the straight were by-passed on both circuits due to the low sun. Hidden Diamond (9/1) appeared to have little chance early in the straight when driven along in fifth. However the grey responded to Bates’ urgings inside the final furlong and came home strongly to touch off Headford Flyer (7/2) by half a length. Forjoetheplumber (2/1 favourite) filled the placings a further two and a quarter lengths back in third. The winner completed a 54/1 double for Bates, now on the 23 winner mark for the season, as he was successful earlier aboard Mount Welcome in the handicap hurdle. Ms Kelly, who saddled her only previous winner under rules when Appraise won on the Flat at Ballinrobe in 2009, said “He was very consistent last year when he was only out of the money once. He deserved to win and was coming up against well-handicapped horses last year. “He was crying out for better ground all winter, and I only have him and two Flat fillies in at the moment.” (Additional reporting by Donal Murphy)
