McNamara comes in from the cold

Trainer Eric McNamara enjoyed a welcome change of luck when recording a 71/1 double with Tristram Shandy and Hevelius in Clonmel last night.

Following the defeat of favourite Sir Harry Cash (runner-up to Dreaming On in the opener), Tristram Shandy, ridden by McNamara’s son Emmet, mastered front-running favourite Special Tiara on the run-in to land the Valley Of Honey Maiden Hurdle, prompting the trainer to comment: “He’s a nice, progressive horse, but probably needs to tidy up his jumping.”

And, after Rob Jones brought Hevelius from off the pace to complete the double, at the expense of Motaraqeb, in the Funky Friday BBQ Evening Handicap Hurdle, McNamara quipped: “This is a great game. We were long enough in the cold house!”