Queally's Dahoma lands dramatic opener at Clonmel There was drama in the opener at Clonmel, the Bulmers Original Maiden Hurdle for four-year-olds, with seven of the 17 runners out of the contest as early as the second hurdle. In front at the time in the two-mile contest, William F Browner ran out and carried out Chiquita, with five other runners behind that pair either following suit to run out or being carried out. Left in front after all the mayhem, the Ricky Doyle-ridden Dahoma (9/1) stayed there the rest of the way to score by three and a-half lengths from Johnny Rambo. Winning trainer Declan Queally said "It was almost like Red Marauder's Grand National! This horse had so much experience in handicaps and had gone around in front in schooling races, so I was pretty sure he'd be honest enough to face the challenge of leading. "He was a little sick last winter, he is only four and I think he might be better going left-handed. He is by Wooded, so I think he is a fast-ground two-miler and, leaving home, I had said to my father (Declan) that I thought today's race would suit. "It was an ordinary race but I think there will be more to come and he can campaign away in 0-100s, as his mark probably won't change.  "The nine-member syndicate are a great bunch of lads and include my mother's first cousin Liam Keating, who runs a bike-rental business on the Waterford Greenway in Kilmacthomas. They had no luck from five previous horses but stuck with it, and today, Liam came in asking where was the winners' enclosure!" Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
