Paddy Cleary thrilled with Private Policy's win at Clonmel Clonmel’s finale was a handicap hurdle over two miles, seven furlongs and it produced an exciting finish with Private Policy (7/1) and Poetic Focus duelling from early in the straight. The former, a winner over three miles at Punchestown in May, gained a narrow lead after the last but Poetic Focus rallied and it was on the nod at the line. Private Policy, an eight-year-old son of Kalanisi, was called the winner by a nose. “I just stuck my head down and I didn’t really look,” said jockey Paddy Cleary when asked if he thought he was up. “Nothing really went right for me in the race at all. I missed the start and everything went wrong really. “I rode him here two starts ago and got caught too far back and didn’t make enough use of him. “Today, I probably made too much use of him. Even the last day he won, I made too much use of him but he just keeps galloping. “Dare I say it, he had his ears pricked in front there! He only does enough. “I want to say a huge thanks to Nigel Slevin (trainer) and Darren Byrne (owner), and everyone who has helped me, because these winners are so important. I’m just so happy.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
