Cornmarket wins Clonmel night cap despite late drift Despite taking a drift in the betting late on, the John Cullen trained Cornmarket rewarded those that had supported him throughout the morning when staying on late to win the concluding John Thomas McNamara Series (Q.R.) Handicap at Clonmel. As big as 10/1 early doors, the seven-year-old was backed right down to 5/2 at one stage of the day. However, support for his market rivals saw him drift back out to his initial price before the off. Sitting third under Lee Shanahan for much of the contest, Cornmarket was ridden to go second over a furlong from the finish. Staying on strongly inside the final furlong, the son of Elzaam led close home to beat favourite Gallo Dell Cielo one-and-a-half lengths. Trainer John Cullen said: "he is well handicapped on the Flat and we said we'd give this distance a go. I fancied him but thought he might be caught for toe, which he was coming down the hill, but he stays well and that won it. "I'm based in Killala, Ballina in Mayo and am full-time training horses, although I've only recently recovered from a broken femur last Easter. I was previously a farrier but am getting more into training now, and took over from my dad in 2018, so I'm looking for owners. "I grew up with horses, worked for trainers Oliver Brady, Shane Donoghue, David Ryan and Niall Moran and rode a little bit, but the weight got the better of me. "It took almost four hours coming here today but it was a special day, as the best part, was the Sam Maguire Cup was at my childrens' school, so my kids Lillian, Sarah and Jamie got to lift it." (Quotes by Thomas Weekes)
