'The best horse I ever had in the yard' - Cleary records first Listed win in the bumper Tom Cleary saddled his first Listed winner as Oh My Word lived up to his name with an impressive victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Future Champions INH Flat Race at Navan. The Poet’s Word gelding, owned and bred by Seamus Ross, made a successful debut here last month and stepped up on that form with a quality performance here. Derek O’Connor’s mount travelled smoothly to head the front-running Panjandrum about two furlongs out and quickened in a matter of strides when asked for an effort over a furlong out. The 11/4 chance kept on strongly inside the final furlong to beat Panjandrum by 11 lengths with Passenger a further three and three-quarter lengths back in third. Cleary said, “That’s my first Listed winner and he’s certainly the best horse I ever had in the yard. He definitely improved from the last day. "We had a great man on his back as well. The ground and everything was in his favour today. "I just appreciate that he put the horse with me and it is going the right way for him.” When asked if he thinks he will be as effective on better ground, he replied: "We haven't run him on it yet, but they say a good horse will go on anything." When asked if he would be thinking Dublin Racing Festival, he replied: "We have no plans whatsoever. I have to have a chat with Mr Ross. Unfortunately, he couldn't be here today as he went to America yesterday to visit the family. "The horse was ready to run and fair play to him as he said 'run away'." Paddy Power cut Oh My Word into 20/1 (from 40/1) for the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival. Additional reporting by Michael Graham
