Declan Bates partnered his first winner this season when giving Jacks Island a strong, positive ride to land the opening Clonmel Oil Day Handicap Hurdle.
Bates, without a winner in over seven months following a promising campaign last season which yielded seven winners, was seen to good effect here.
The Philip Rothwell-trained gelding was sent on past the front-running favourite Quartetto at the fourth last, and a big leap at the last sealed the issue as he stayed on well to beat Harold's Cross by five and a half lengths. Masked Phantom caught the eye coming home well just three quarters of a length further back.
Rothwell said afterwards, “The first time tongue tie seemed to make a difference. He ran well a few times here before but found it hard to win. We'll find something similar.”
