Controversy as Listowel is abandoned after three races
Conditions underfoot were simply atrocious and, after the opener, the stewards received a deputation of jockeys, including Ruby Walsh, Barry Geraghty and John Cullen.
Said Walsh: “We are not refusing to ride, we simply believe the course is waterlogged.”
He went to win the second event on Boher Storm and immediately reported: “The track is unraceable and will be unraceable for the rest of the day.” They were to prove prophetic words.
The stewards, accompanied by a number of trainers, including Willie Mullins, Gerry Cully, Eric McNamara and Michael Hourigan, then walked a portion of the track.
The stewards returned and went into conclave. In their wisdom, they decided racing should continue.
Two races later and they finally bowed to the inevitable. The decision was taken, in the interests of safety, having heard evidence from an invited delegation of senior riders, to abandon the rest of the meeting.
Quite frankly, the affair smacked of amateurism. Commented Michael Hourigan: “This is an utter disgrace, three races have just been run largely without mishap.”
Fellow trainer, Sean Treacy, said: “It is the owners who will suffer, they have no comeback. They are being treated like third-class citizens.”
An irate Gerry Cully confined himself to saying: “This is a joke.”
Commented Eric McNamara: “I think this is wrong. I can't see why they have to call it off now, what's different compared to after the first?”
The Turf Club runners sheet on Friday morning had given the ground as heavy. But two dry days, Friday and Saturday had, apparently, seen an improvement in the surface.
But heavy overnight rain, and this was clearly signposted by the weather-people, had changed everything.
No early-morning inspection was held, surely a blunder. There was absolutely no indication whatsoever, right up until the jockeys made their feelings known after the first, that the meeting might be in danger.
Put simply - you didn't need a very high IQ, if you only stuck your snout out briefly in the morning, to realise there was a real possibility it might have to go west.
Inspector of courses, Val O'Connell, walked the track at 10.30 and concluded it was raceable.
Clerk of the course, Paddy Graffin, indicated he walked the track at 11.30. “I knew it was 50-50, but felt we would be okay.
“The problem is the horses hoofprints are going into the ground and the holes are filling up with water”, said Graffin.
“Hourigan is back”, exclaimed the irrepressible Limerick handler, after Orchestral Dream sloshed his way to victory in the Ballybunion Maiden Hurdle.
His horses have been struggling for a bit of form, but Hourigan did saddle a winner, Kilfinny Cross, at Tipperary last Thursday.
Partnered by David Flannery - this was his eighth success - Orchestral Dream forged past the front-running Lovely Present going to the last to score by 13 lengths.
The five-year-old had been absent since Christmas and Hourigan explained: “He has been waiting on better ground and look what happened. He will now go handicapping.”
Ruby Walsh partnered Boher Storm to an easy win in the first division of the Island Maiden Hurdle.
Despite going off market leader, Boher Storm was easy to back, finding 5-2 from 7-4.
Making his debut over jumps, he did his job well, easing ahead before the second last to beat Hard To Credit.
The second section was won in the proverbial canter by another having a first pop over flights, Paul Nolan's Sirius Storm.
Practice Match was all the rage in the ring, hammered down to evens from 6-4, but was always fighting a losing battle.
John Cullen eased Sirius Storm ahead early in the straight and was able to afford several glances at his toiling rival in the closing stages, the verdict 20 lengths.
