'Oh My Word' - A bumper horse that excites everyone for Tom Cleary Oh My Word (IRE) really caught everyone’s attention with a brilliant bumper win at Navan for Tom Cleary. He was relentless with Derek O’Connor throughout, and the moment Derek eased off, he surged clear. A stunning performance in a race that’s seen some top-class horses, he looks to be one that could easily join that list. Champion Bumper? Speaking on irishracing.com’s Irish Angle show this week, Johnny Ward reflected on Tom Cleary’s smart prospect. “This is fantastic for the sport and I really wouldn’t understate that. The Cleary family are so popular, and Tom is an absolute gentleman. “Tom’s been at this game for a long time, and to have a four-year-old like this on his hands, well, it’s marvelous to see. “The horse was so keen under Derek O’Connor, and he’s very, very smart. The fact that Tom Cleary has a horse that’s been cut to 20-1 for the Champion Bumper is exactly what National Hunt racing should be about. “This is what racing used to be - having a horse like that land in your yard, and who knows, maybe we’ll see Tom at Leopardstown for the Dublin Racing Festival. “Christmas might come too soon, but this is exactly what you want in racing - a small trainer with a potential star.” All praise from Paddy Flood too who added: “tanking with Derek O’Connor? He’s probably got the best pair of hands in the game.” “He's classed as an amateur, but in my opinion, he's as good as any professional who's ever thrown their leg over a horse’s back. “So for him to pull that hard - if you watch Derek riding over fences, he never moves. You never see him out of position.” Bloodstock commentBy Holly Harte Oh My Word (IRE) is homebred by Poets Word out of a multiple-winning hurdle mare, Mulleady (IRE). Seamus Ross also has the three-year-old full brother to Oh My Word (IRE) to run for him. When you think that the Ross’ would have taken Mulleady (IRE) to stud back in April 2020, she foaled in March 2021 and only this winter are they starting to recoup their investment, it’s a long game but the dream is very much alive. Poet’s Word stands at Boardsmill Stud, a long-established stud farm in Trim, County Meath. The Flood family’s operation acquired him after his racing career, and he now serves as one of the stud’s principal sires. He has attracted significant interest from breeders, covering many mares each season and producing winners on the track. His first Irish-bred crops have performed well, with multiple winners and strong results at the sales. Progeny have performed very well on the track, with about 80% winners to runners, which is unusually high for a young stallion and notable among his cohort. A Poet to follow Taurus Bay (IRE) - A €26,000 pinhook bought at the Goffs Arkle Sale 2024 turned a tidy profit to £155,000 when sold at Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale 2025 to JP McGrath for trainer Ben Pauling. Consigned by point-to-point handler Denis Murphy’s Ballyboy Stables. Taurus Bay (IRE) was Poets Word’s first point-to-point runner in Ireland. A winner (4YO maiden) prior to the Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale for Murphy and now a two-time winner over hurdles for the Ben Pauling team.
