Stewards invalidate Mullins’ plans
He made a request to the stewards, in writing, to replace David Casey on Maram in the Tipperary Maiden Hurdle and Shay Barry on One Night Out in the Clonmel Chase, with stable jockey Ruby Walsh.
The brilliant pilot was due to go to Warwick, but when that programme was abandoned he re-routed to Clonmel.
Mullins’ wishes, however, fell on deaf ears and the stewards refused to allow Walsh take the mounts. The stewards’ decision was that Mullins’ reasons weren’t valid. Mullins, however, believes there is nothing in the Rule Book which should have prevented Walsh from riding.
If another Irish meeting had been abandoned yesterday there would have been no problem with Walsh then taking the two rides. But it seems the stewards interpreted the rule, or the spirit of the rule, to be different as far as English meetings are concerned.
At least that was Mullins’ intepretation of what went on. Said Mullins: "I am taking this up with the Trainers’ Association and will request the senior stewards to look at this ‘valid’ reason rule.
"Ruby and I discussed today’s racing earlier in the week. He had several good rides in England and only one for me here, so I said to him ‘go to England.’
"I told both David and Shay in the morning that they would be replaced and neither had a problem with that. Indeed, both of them have benefitted from Ruby’s trips to England this season.”
Ironically, Walsh and Barry Geraghty, who was also due to go to Warwick, rode at Clonmel. They replaced riders who were reported to be indisposed. Obviously, indisposed was regarded as a ‘valid’ reason. Clearly, this sort of silly thinking will have to be amended. Any rule like this, or so-called rule, which stops the likes of Walsh, Geraghty or Carberry from riding, and prevents the paying customer from seeing them, is just downright stupid.
You might as well tell Keith Wood he can’t play because his hair is too long!
