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- Tommy off the mark over fences
Gary Carson
Tommy off the mark over fences
Top Line Tommy & Kieren Buckley
© Photo Healy Racing
Top Line Tommy was given a positive ride by Kieren Buckley to land the opening beginners chase at Tramore this afternoon.
The Edward O'Grady-trained gelding went to post a 13/2 shot in the two-mile-five contest and went to the front after the first circuit.
He was joined by Clairmc briefly running down to the second last but a good jump there saw him assert and despite being a bit untidy at the last he stayed on strongly to post a 16-length win.
The winner had been well beaten in testing conditions when last seen at Clonmel in early April. His only previous success had been on the all-weather at Dundalk.
O'Grady:- "I just think the ground makes all the difference to him. I was really pleased to see him jump so well. I thought the jockey gave him a very nice ride, I was very impressed by him.
"It's taken a long time for this horse to win, since he won on the Flat at Dundalk. Now that he has won one, maybe he will get it together. He is very much a summer horse.
"I've been coming to Tramore since the 60s with Arthur Moore for the festival. It was the biggest festival of all back then bigger than Galway."
Regarding his daughter Rosie Mae O'Grady having her first ride in the bumper, he added: "I'm very nervous! I'm hoping she gets around and there is no pressure."
(Quotes by Donal Murphy)