A good week gets better for the McNamaras After their success at Ballinrobe on Monday evening with Drifting Back, a good week got better for Limerick father and son, Eric and Conor McNamara, as the Niall Earls-owned Bear Claws triumphed in the Support Tramore Business Maiden Hurdle. Marmolata took them along here but she came back to her rivals and there were a few with chances from before the second last. A very well backed 11/4 second favourite, Bear Claws, a winner on the Flat for Andy Oliver, stayed on best on the run-in to beat Marmolata and favourite Kendancer by two and three parts of a length and a neck. "He had a good run to finish fourth in Galway the last day. I was kind of never going to win and I didn't kill him after. He came on well for that run,” the winning rider revealed. "He jumps like a cat and I'd say that's what won it for him. Hopefully now there will be nice little four-year-old novice hurdle for him somewhere. He can be a dual-purpose horse as well towards the end of the year." (DM & EM)
