Change Of Trainer For Leading Champion Bumper Fancy Oh My Word

[Wandering Eyes]

Tom Cleary has said that he would be the first man to raise a glass to the connections of Oh My Word at Cheltenham after confirming that owner Seamus Ross has moved the leading fancy for the Champion Bumper to his old ally Tony Martin. 

Cleary enjoyed his greatest day as a trainer when Oh My Word produced a spellbinding performance to win the Listed Future Champions Bumper at Navan under Derek O'Connor last month. 

In doing so, Oh My Word landed back-to-back bumper wins at the track and joined an illustrious roll of honour that features Don Cossack, Samcro and Envoi Allen to have won that Listed event. 

It was a win that left the bookmakers suitably impressed with Oh My Word, who Cleary believes is “definitely a Grade 1 horse,” now as short as 12-1 with most firms for Champion Bumper glory.

And while some of the narrative surrounding that success leaned towards David and Goliath stories from bygone years – think Tom Foley and Danoli or even Peter Casey and Flemenstar – the 69-year-old Westmeath-based trainer revealed “it was always the plan” that Oh My Word would eventually join Martin, who has trained the lion's share of Ross's horses down through the years. 

“We hope he goes all the way for Mr Ross and sure we were only privileged to have had him in our yard,” a magnanimous Cleary told TDN Europe on Friday. “We knew all along that the horse would be going to Tony Martin because he trains all of Mr Ross's horses. He's the best horse that ever walked into my yard – he's definitely a Grade 1 horse and I think he could go all the way.”

He added, “We were expecting a good run when he ran at Navan on debut and he duly won. We didn't think that we'd have him for his second run but, he was in such good form, we entered him for the Listed Future Champions Bumper and fair play to the owner, he gave us the go ahead to run again. We expected a huge run that day and, sure enough, he didn't let us down.”

Oh My Word: as short as 12-1 for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham | Racingfotos.com

That was the biggest success that Cleary has enjoyed to date and, according to the handler, it was made extra special for the input his sons, Classic-winning rider Rory and former jockey Paul, put into the horse during the early stages of his career.

“I'm only at this [training] in a small way,” he said. “I'd only have five or six horses in the yard at any stage but I've been lucky to have had a few nice horses down through the years. This horse is definitely the best horse we've ever had anything to do with. I'm 69 years of age now and, to be honest, it never entered my head or bothered me whether I'd have a Listed winner or not. Having said that, it was very nice to get it.”

He concluded, “Rory is a huge help and I have my other son Paul and his son James at home. The whole family is a huge help to me and I even ride out the odd time myself. Rory pre-trained Oh My Word so it was a big family effort, which made the whole thing extra special. We were just delighted to get the opportunity and look forward to working the same way in the future with Mr Ross and his farm manager Eoin Fenton. And you'd never know, if he goes to Cheltenham, I might have to go over and cheer him on.”

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