Short-changed punters are once again the only losers

AT Tipperary on June 17, the stewards thought it was fine for Robert Rower, in a conditions chase, to just push out Bobs Pride hands and heels and, as a result, get him beaten a short head by Don’t Be Bitin. Bobs Pride went off a heavily-backed 15-8 favourite.

At Tipperary on May 20 the stewards on duty that evening took an entirely different view of the riding of a horse called Ballyronan Boy in a seven furlongs plus flat race.

They decided the racecourse had been used as a training ground and the 66-1 shot was suspended from racing for 60 days, trainer, Michael O’Connell, fined 1,500 and jockey, Ronan Whelan, suspended for seven days.