Amateur hit with 14-day ban
The Stewards enquired into a number of incidents involving Power’s mount and the Mikey O’Connor-ridden Not Before Eight, particularly what happened after the fifth last fence, when Power reacted to O’Connor’s attempt to make progress on his inside.
After a lengthy investigation, the Stewards were of the opinion that Power “had ridden dangerously” in the incident after the fifth last fence and that he purposely interfered with O’Connor’s mount.
For that reason, Optimum Force was disqualified from second position and placed last. Power was banned for fourteen days and, having found that O’Connor had ridden “improperly” in the second incident, before the fourth last fence, they suspended him for four days.
Victory went to 10/1 shot Lion Na Bearnai, a first winner on the racecourse for trainer Tom Gibney and a first for rider Matt O’Connor since he had his claim reduced to 3lb. by scoring on Merchant Royal last Thursday.
The meeting will also be remembered for the retirement of Sublimity, winner of two Grade 1 races, notably the 2007 Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. Now an eleven-year-old and ridden for the first in more than a year by regular partner Philip Carberry, Sublimity finished a well-beaten fourth behind Action Master in the Motivate Challenge Supported By Failte Ireland Hurdle.
Both owner Bill Finnigan and his trainer-son Robbie expressed their relief that Sublimity, trained by John Carr when he tasted Cheltenham glory, had returned “safe and sound” Robbie adding: “Philip was happy with him and said he felt great. But the horse’s wind caught him out again, in the last half-mile. He’s had three wind operations and, while his spirit is willing, his body isn’t. He’s been a great servant and it was always our intention that Philip would ride him in his last race. He flew home from France to ride him tonight.”
Action Master, which outpointed odds-on favourite Won In The Dark on the run-in to score by three lengths, was completing a double for Curragh trainer Dessie Hughes and champion conditional rider Bryan Cooper.
Hughes admitted: “That proves that anything can happen in this type of race. He’s a horse with loads of ability, but he’s a bit of a villain.
“Bryan was very good on him. He took him time and even waited going to the last, changing his hands and giving the horse something to think about. It’s great to win with him again - he hasn’t won since his juvenile days. I’m not sure what he’ll do next, although he has been schooled over fences.”
The Hughes/Cooper double had been sparked by Great Value, which held the late challenge of favourite Seader by a neck in the Harbour View Construction Maiden Hurdle.
Hughes commented: “It’s nice to win with him, at last. He ran well in a good winners’ race here at the Festival. He’ll go on through the summer and has the look of chaser. He’s owned by the same syndicate that owns Sarteano and First Row.”
Also in double form was Davy Russell, who partnered the Paul Flynn-trained Archie Boy to a convincing win over Skip Two in the www.motivatechallenge.com Chase.
Having disputed the lead with Aran Concerto (virtually pulled up, injured, on the run-in), Archie Boy asserted before the second last to score in good style, prompting Flynn to explain: “At the weights, he was entitled to win. I was a bit worried about the ground, but Davy said it was grand.
“Long-term, we’ll probably aim him at the Kerry National. The big handicap at Kilbeggan (the Midlands National on July 15) would be an earlier option, although he’ll probably have top-weight.”
Russell completed his double when Dazzling Susie, fourth in the Grade 1 bumper at the Punchestown Festival, made all to win the mares hurdles, keeping charity race winner Jacksonslady at bay by a half-length after a protracted battle, the pair pulling a distance clear of the third.
Dazzling Susie, winner of two bumpers, is trained in Carrick-on-Suir by John O’Callaghan, who said: “She’s normally a bit free, but Davy said she was more lazy in front today. The plan was to finish after Punchestown but she was very good in herself afterwards. Davy sat on her and she schooled well. She’ll have a break now and will campaign in those mares races at the backend of the year.”
