Orgilgo Bay (nearside) beat Clarcam in the second at Punchestown© Photo Healy Racing
Clarcam went into many a notebook as a certain next time out winner at Ballinrobe just over three weeks back, but he bumped into a really smart rival when beaten by Orgilgo Bay in the Go Racing In Kildare 3-y-o Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown.
The betting suggested that John McConnell's useful flat recruit was ready to the business at the first time of asking over timber and that thinking became reality when the Mark Bolger-ridden Lawman gelding beat odds on favourite, the aforementioned Clarcam, by three and a half lengths.
Davy Russell on Clarcam cannily kept to the right side of the pace-setting Desiderata who tended to go left at his hurdles. Orgilgo Bay wasn't so lucky though, impeded more than once by the leader's wanderings. He wasn't going as well as the 'jolly' turning in either, making his victory all the more meritorious.
McConnell said: "It was very touch and go whether we let him go on the ground. We waited until Mark rode in the first to make a final decision.
"The ground was fine but he'd be better with a bit of an ease. He won well going away and he's a brilliant jumper when he gets it right.
"That run will bring him on a tonne and he was only getting going at the end. We might go for the Grade 3 at Fairyhouse and if we go for that we'll probably give him a bit of a break after that.
"We'd like to give him a break as he's been on the go for a while.
"Gelding him has really made a man of him. He's really filled out all over. A lot of the family improve with time and he's a half brother to Third Intention (a Grade 2 hurdles winner cross-channel) so he's got a lot going for him.
"The owner, Derek Kierans (has 2-time winning juvenile hurdler Lindenhurst with McConnell as well) has a number of pubs in Manhattan and he's been a great supporter of mine. It's nice to have a good horse for him."
Meanwhile Bolger reported: "The horse in front (Desiderata) was jumping a bit out to the left and brought me with him a couple of times.
"He sort of had it in his head after that but he was back on an even keel going to the third last.
"He won well enough at the finish and had a bit up his sleeve.
"He stuck his head out as I thought I was in a bit of trouble turning in.
"He hadn't been over schooled so you'd be hopeful there'd be a good bit of improvement in him." (AM & EM)
