Bregogue benefits from bypassing blunder
It was won by Teo Perugo, who easily beat Ceannairceach and Bregogue; but that was only the start of the story.
An inquiry was quickly called with the course announcer, unfortunately, signalling that Teo Perugo wasn’t involved.
That was soon corrected to include the gelding, as the inquiry centred on the bypassing of the first fence down the back straight.
A notice in the jockeys’ changing room clearly stated that all fences were to be bypassed on the right hand side, except the fourth last where they were to go left.
It really was an open and shut case. Both Teo Perugo and Ceannairceach went the wrong side, Bregogue got it right, the fourth horse, Golden Beacon, was wrong and the fifth, Sweet Citizen, was right. Simple!
Others to take the wrong course were Annshoon and Glendante, both eventually pulling up.
The only mild surprise was that the stewards didn’t arrive at a conclusion earlier and the announcement of the outcome of the inquiry was delayed until after the following contest.
The relevant fence was bypassed in the interests of safety, because the approach to the obstacle had become slippery.
The riders were informed, prior to going out, to bypass on the right-hand side by clerk of the course, Joe Banahan.
They got a further reminder at the start.
The decision, in any case, was made to disqualify Teo Perugo, Ceannairceach and Golden Beacon.
Original third, Bregogue, was promoted to first and original fifth, Sweet Citizen, eased into the runner-up berth.
So, officially, there were only two finishers.
No disciplinary action was taken against any of the riders.
That great veteran of Irish racing, Paddy Mullins, was on the mark when Hurry Bob streaked away with the Dromahane Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Walsh.
The nine-year-old travelled sweetly throughout and was allowed cruise into the lead going to the third last.
Seomra Hocht soon emerged as the only possible danger, but was none too good over the second last and Hurry Bob, 4-1 market leader from 5’s, eased away to score unextended by three lengths.
Walsh began his day when partnering Michael O’Brien’s Young Elodie to a smooth victory in the Glantane three-year-old Maiden Hurdle.
Third on the flat behind Orpington at Galway on her debut, the filly has clearly taken well to jumping.
She flipped over the obstacles in style, making all the running and shooting clear of Brown Corrig on the approach to the penultimate flight.
Walsh, riding at the very top of his form (when does he ride any other way?) completed his day aboard One Night Out in the Tallow Novice Chase.
The winner cut little ice in the Galway Plate, but this was a lot easier and he was supported accordingly in the ring, finding 4-5 from 5-4.
One Night Out was soon at the head of affairs and, in a very moderate contest, was never in any danger of defeat, shaking off the less than enthusiastic Moss Bawn well before the home turn.
The tough Moydrum Castle produced a sparkling front-running performance to turn-over odds-on The Posh Paddy, also ridden by Walsh, in the Millstreet Hurdle.
The Posh Paddy Paddy - 4-6 from 4-7 - could never quite get to grips with the winner.
Mark Grant rode a fine race on Moydrum Castle, kicking on heading to five out.
The Posh Paddy, not the most fluent of jumpers, tried hard to close in the straight but was always fighting a losing battle.
Hickory Hill, carrying the colours of Leamlara builder, John Cronin, got the best of a terrific tussle with Moonoki to land the Bumper by a head.
Hickory Hill is trained in Cloyne by James Motherway, who watched the race while on honeymoon in Tenerife.
Sheer Tenby, better known as a sprinter, saw out the two miles of the Buttevant Maiden Hurdle to beat the flattering Ruff Justice.
The latter was left in front when trail-blazing High Day departed the scene five from home.
Ruff Justice looked good for most of the straight, but Sheer Tenby, despite being none too clever at the last, was soon driven into the lead by Barry Geraghty.
