McNamara shines as Good Step prevails

JOHN THOMAS McNAMARA, who received widespread acclaim for his Cheltenham success on Spot Thedifference, was again seen at his strongest when winning the Garryrichard Stud Tertratema Cup yesterday on 8/1 shot Good Step.

And winning trainer Enda Bolger, who won this prestigious ‘hunters’ prize once as a jockey, on Dromin Leader in 1991, declared, “John Thomas is riding great at the moment. And I hope he’ll be able to ride Spot Thedifference in the National on Saturday, even if he has to put up a few pounds overweight.”

McNamara didn’t panic in yesterday’s race when Good Step lost his place early in the last mile. He brought the JP McManus-owned seven-year-old with a well-timed challenge to beat First Down Jets, to which head failed narrowly in the ‘Joseph O'Reilly’ at Fairyhouse last week.