JOSH Williamson savoured “the best feeling in the world” as he rode his first ever winner aboard Edward O’Grady’s Housemartin in the Kilclooney Woods Qualified Riders Handicap Hurdle in tough conditions at Clonmel on Thursday.

A son of the multiple Grade 1-winning rider Norman, the 17-year-old rode a patient race, taking his mount through to challenge just before the straight. The pair broke clear with joint favourite Natural Breeze and Phidelma Elvin, only getting the better of that duo with a strong finishing effort after the last.

“It’s a brilliant feeling and, of course, my father, Norman, was with Edward for years, so to get the first one for him is extra-special,” said the winning rider. “I got bitten by the bug on my first ride. That’s my first ride over hurdles and I had my first ride in a point-to-point last Sunday, so it’s great.

“I’ve just turned 17 and am in fifth year in school. I’d like to make a go of this. I just got my jumps licence so hopefully I’ll get some point-to-point rides and see how we go after that.

“I’m with Gordon Elliott every morning I can. I’m in school at the moment but last year, for transition year, I was there all year, pretty much.”

Good scrap

Patrick Foley’s Castle Field Boy got the better of a good scrap with Whatsavailable from the second last to take the three-mile Graham Norris Memorial Handicap Hurdle.

This was a good start to the season to the Black Stairs Syndicate-owned seven-year-old who progressed gradually last term, winning on his final start of the campaign in a maiden hurdle at Tipperary.

“I’m delighted with him as I was worried about his lack of a recent run in those conditions over three miles,” said Foley. “I thought it would be a big ask for him but he is as tough as nails. I think he’ll improve from that.

“The plan after winning in Tipperary was to go straight chasing with him but we thought he might have had a bit left over hurdles. Now we don’t know what we’re going to do so we’ll play it by ear.”

GAVIN Cromwell continued his fine run of form with a double on the card, highlighted by Limerick Lace, J.P. McManus’s classy mare, who made it career win number five in the extended two-mile-two-furlong Mahon Falls Mares Chase.

The six-year-old holds a rating of 141 but faced a couple of smart and race-fit mares in the shape of Heia and Minx Tiara. The former put up the biggest fight, leading the winner into the straight but she was well held when she put in a tired jump at the last, and the winning margin was 16 lengths at the line.

“She did that nicely and is a fine mare who handles those conditions really well,” said the owner’s representative Frank Berry. “Gavin was pleased with her coming here. She’ll tip away in those mares’ races and the softer the better for her as she just keeps going through it.”

Cromwell doubled up with Midnight It Is, ridden by Keith Donoghue, in the closing two-mile Clonmel Oil Chase Day November 9th Handicap Chase.

They went steady and the end result was a line of horses in contention in the straight, where both fences were omitted.

The Brendan Keogh-owned gelding dealt best with the circumstances, pulling three lengths away from Freddie Robdal after the bypassed last.

“He has been frustrating and we thought he’d have won over fences before now,” said Donoghue. “I think he liked that ground well, it wasn’t the strongest of races and he was down in distance which probably suited on that ground.”

Spread out

The Coumshingaun Handicap Chase finished spread out thanks to the strong gallop set by Killashee and the only one who could match the tempo was Sam Curling’s Bonnie Kellie.

The Ballyclogher Partnership-owned mare tracked John Ryan’s horse into the straight, took it up before the second last and saw it out well in tough conditions to win by 12 lengths under Pa King.

“She deserved that as she had been unlucky and was going to run well the last day (when exiting at the third-last),” said Curling. “It is very tough going today but Pa said she was also getting a bit lonely up the home straight.

“I’m delighted for the syndicate which are local and I’ll leave her alone now until Christmas where she might go to Limerick for the Tim Duggan Memorial Chase.”

CROKE Park made a largely impressive start to hurdling with an 11-length win in the opening two-mile Crottys Maiden Hurdle for Jack Kennedy and Gordon Elliott.

The Gigginstown gelding cost £400,000 in April last year and finished second on his sole bumper start at Kilbeggan in May. He led from pillar to post and always looked in control in the straight. He did jump to his left on occasions but Kennedy was happy to excuse him that on account that he was looking at the stable yard.

“That was very good, he jumped great, loved that ground but you’ll probably see the best of him over a trip and, in time, over a fence,” the rider said.

“He is a massive big horse and I’d say Kilbeggan wouldn’t have suited him so probably didn’t run a bad race considering that. He was always going to be a winter-type on galloping tracks.”

Mount Sinai was another impressive winner, taking the extended two-mile-three-furlong Irish Stallions Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle for the Mullins trio of Patrick, Willie and Jackie.

The half sister to Seabank Bistro had finished third on both bumper starts but looked a different proposition on hurdles debut. She raced prominently on the inside and came away from her rivals under little to no urging in the straight.

“She was running keen in her bumpers and jumped very well today which improved her and also it helped her to relax,” said Patrick. “I actually didn’t think she’d handle this ground but she loved it. Her brother likes that ground as well but she is very different and is smaller and slighter.

“It was a nice surprise and we won’t have any fancy targets but we’ll try to pick up some blacktype somewhere and she has the scope to jump fences as well.”