Norman Williamson took a rare day off on Tuesday to aid his recovery from a fall at Punchestown on Sunday but was back among the winners at Clonmel yesterday as French import Wild Arms trotted up on his Irish debut.
Bought at the sales in Paris in early October, Wild Arms is now trained by Edward O'Grady and came to his local track with quite a home reputation.
The bookmakers were unwilling to open a market on the Clonmel Oil Maiden Hurdle until about two minutes before the off, although in their recently issued Bookmakers' Charter they gave "a commitment to act in a fair, proper and professional manner at all times".
Wild Arms started an even-money favourite and was always travelling strongly for Williamson. He had taken control on the downhill run to the straight and eventually came home 14 lengths clear of Toto Caelo, previously trained on the flat by Barry Hills. "Wild Arms seems to have taken both to Ireland and to hurdling. He showed his liking for jumping in a schooling race at Punchestown and will now go to Leopardstown at the end of the month," said O'Grady.
A son of Pistolet Bleu, Wild Arms will attempt to emulate last year's winner of the race, Knife Edge, who went on to take the valuable Dennys Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas. Ross Geraghty opened his account as a professional when partnering Gold Blaze, trained by his father Tom, to take the Clonmel Oil Opportunity Handicap Hurdle. The five-year-old mare stayed on well in the straight to beat Keelaun Express by five lengths. Geraghty's younger brother Barry is blazing a trail at the head of the National Hunt jockeys championship.
Dual point-to-point winner Irregular Planting made virtually all under Kieran Gaule to reward favourite backers in the Clonmel Oil Beginners Chase.
Annie Cares overcame an 11-month lay-off when heading the front-running Mill Lane Lady in the closing stages to land the EBF Tattersalls Mares Beginners' Chase. The evens favourite Generosa appeared to be still going well on the heels of the leaders when a faller at the penultimate fence.
