Inexperienced claimer hit with massive 50-day ban
The James Nash-trained Massini’s Trap came from well off the pace and finished well in third place, little more than two lengths behind The Ring Is King (a flat winner on this track last month), prompting a predictable ‘running and riding’ enquiry.
Evidence was heard from the trainer and rider involved, Doran commenting that his mount jumped adequately and stayed on well. And, significantly, he admitted that, if he had ridden Massini’s Trap more prominently, “he would probably have won”.
Nash confirmed his instructions, to jump off fifth or sixth on the inside, creep into the race and do his best, and stated that he was not satisfied with Doran’s handling of the four-year-old.
The Stewards found Doran guilty, under Rule 212a (i), of not taking “reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to obtain the best possible position”. They banned him for 50 days.
Ruby Walsh was seen at his strongest and most persuasive on board the Willie Mullins-trained favourite Darroun in the McHale Engineering Hurdle, getting the grey up in the last stride to pip Aranhill Chief by a nose.
The 11/10 favourite, which made a lot of the early running, never looked happy, made a mistake at the second last when chasing the eventual runner-up and, in the circumstances, did well to win, Walsh admitting: “He didn’t give me much help but, to be fair, when I needed one at the last, he came up for me. He’s been lacking a bit of confidence and I’d say he’ll go jumping fences.”
Trainer Steve Mahon and rider Robbie Dunne, narrowly denied with Aranhill Chief, enjoyed better luck in the following McGrath Quarries Handicap Hurdle when Green Thirty Two, having his second run in twenty-four hours, scored emphatically from Rolling Rocket.
Disappointing at Limerick last time, six-time flat winner Bob Le Beau made no mistake under Robbie Power in the Mayo News Maiden Hurdle, edging ahead between the last two flights to beat well-backed Philly’s Fancy and favourite Spot Fine.
Power said of the Jessica Harrington-trained six-year-old: “He’s been a good servant, but we got things wrong with him the last day. The change of tactics suited him. He’s quick and agile at his hurdles and showed today what he’s capable of.”
Unlucky on his last visit to Ballinrobe, the Joanna Morgan-trained Xsquared, ridden by Andrew McNamara, captured the McWilliam Park Hotel Handicap Hurdle at the expense of market rival Pennys Tune.
