Ban for top amateur O'Connor

Irish champion amateur rider Derek O’Connor found himself in hot water with the stewards at Punchestown today.

The rider was handed a seven-day ban for his handling of Community Dan, who came home 12th of the 21 finishers in the opening April Festival Maiden Hurdle.

The stewards found him guilty of making insufficient effort and the horse was banned from running for 42 days.

Trainer Martin Kinane said his instructions to O’Connor had been to jump off in mid-division and to do his best and that he felt the horse had been further back in the field than he had requested.

He said he had been dissatisfied with the ride and that O’Connor should have been more vigorous.

He escaped any punishment and his explanation was noted.

The race itself went to the Dessie Hughes-trained Akhtari, and the handler completed a double when Sea Diva took the closing Panoramic Restaurant Mares INH Flat Race.

The latter was a first winner for 20-year-old Robbie Hennessy.