Tom proves poignant winner

Wooly Tom left his previous form well behind to run out a cosy winner on his handicap debut at Gowran Park.

Martin Mooney gave the lightly raced eight-year-old a confident ride coming from last to first in the two-mile handicap hurdle.

The gelding, trained by the jockey's father Paddy, made up ground turning for home and was eighth jumping the penultimate flight.

The 16/1 shot (from 20/1) cruised into contention at the final flight and soon hit the lead, being shaken up to assert on the run to the line.

The winner was value for more than his three-length success over 25/1 shot Plato who had also challenged at the last but couldn't match his rival on the run-in.

Wooly Tom had made his debut back in December 2009 but had only made three starts since with a couple of long lay offs and had been well beaten in four outings before today.

Winning owner Paul Donnelly, who hails from Armagh, revealed that the horse is named after his late father:-

"My father is three years dead today and used to own the horse with me. His name was Tom and he was nicknamed Wooly Tom."

Donnelly also revealed that he is off to Africa for a month to do charity work.

(On course reporting by Donal Murphy)