Scoss, twice successful on the flat when trained at Newmarket by Luca Cumani, was another impressive winner for Ted Walsh when landing the Racecourse Supporters Club Juvenile Maiden Hurdle at a rain-sodden Clonmel yesterday. In atrocious conditions, Scoss, the 7 to 4 favourite, made a highly encouraging start to his jumping career when storming to an 11lengths success under Walsh's son Ruby, who was riding his sixth winner over hurdles. "It was Andy Geraghty who recommended him to me. I am thrilled by the way he has won and he will now go to Fairyhouse for a winners' race early next month."
With the champion amateur in winning form, it was only fitting that both Charlie Swan and Garrett Cotter, the senior and claiming champions respectively, paid visits to the winner's enclosure. Cotter, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Saturday, was first to score, winning the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle on the David Kiely-trained Fountain Page.
He followed up later in the afternoon by taking the Clonmel Oil Handicap Chase on Fifth Generation, who jumped superbly throughout to win for trainer Donie Hassett.
In between Cotter's wins, multiple champion Charlie Swan was also on the mark, winning the handicap hurdles for an absent Aidan O'Brien.
The well supported Sir John got Swan off the mark when battling well to beat Sorry About That in the two-mile Clonmel Oil Handicap Hurdle.
The blinkered Mondeo Rose stayed on well to land the three mile Clonmel Oil Handicap Hurdle with an equally game performance. Shay Barry enjoyed a welcome success when Letterlee, successful over hurdles at the course in February, made it third time lucky over fences in the Tully Travel Beginners Chase.
Useful hurdler Star Market was improving yesterday after sustaining serious neck injuries in a fall at Aintree. The seven-year-old is still under treatment at the Leahurst Veterinary College where he was taken after his mishap in Saturday's Stanley Leisure Children In Need Handicap Hurdle. "He's a bit brighter this morning," said trainer Nigel TwistonDavies.Taufan's Melody had little difficulty in recording his second win in the Listed Prix du Grand Camp over a mile and a half at Lyon yesterday. The Lady Herries runner made all in the hands of Ray Cochrane for an easy two-and-a-half-length win over Trait de Genie. The winner was a 11 to 10 chance on the Pari-Mutuel.
