Comet made to work hard

Donatis Comet just edged a terrific duel with No Such Number in the Fethard Maiden at Clonmel.

No Such Number set out to make all in the ten furlong event but was tracked throughout by the 4/5 favourite.

Andrew Thornton asked his mount to tackle the front-runner turning in but he had to work hard to gain a narrow lead inside the final furlong.

The eventual runner-up refused to go down without a battle and only a neck seperated the pair at the line.

The Pat Martin-trained winner was supplementing three bumper successes last summer.

"That was a struggle for him. Pat (Smullen) wanted to make the pace and they went a long way clear," said Martin afterwards.

"He just does enough and it was the same in his bumpers. He'll go for a mile-and-a-half handicap at Fairyhouse next week. The trip today is probably a bit short.

"He's a panicky horse. We couldn't get the bridle on him and that's why he was so late going to the start, but he's very honest.

"He'd be very unlikely to go hurdling as he's had a problem with his hind leg before."

Donatis Comet had finished fifth at the Curragh on his previous run when Thornton had been unable to ride him out after injuring his foot in the stalls.

Gary Carson & Donal Murphy