Authorization puts controversy behind him

After being banned for sixty days for 'using the racecourse as a training ground', Authorization returned to action with a bang, as he ran out an easy winner of the opener at Naas today, the Annual Membership At Naas Maiden Hurdle.

His trainer James Motherway was fined €2,000 for his last run, while his jockey Jody McGarvey was given a fourteen day ban while also being ordered to forfeit his riding fee.

Having served his sentence of over eight weeks, the five-year-old son of Authorized was sent off a 3/1 chance this afternoon under Paul Townend.

Owned by RTE Racing pundit Brian Gleeson and his wife Claire, the bay gelding was settled towards the rear of mid-division.

He made headway on the inside approaching the straight, and he travelled well behind the leaders on the run to the second last.

He came with his challenge at the last, soon hitting the front, going on from there to score comfortably by two and three parts of a length. Morney Wing ran a fine race on his debut, finishing second at 20/1 under Roger Loughran for Dessie Hughes, while Tawseef was a further two and a quarter lengths back in third under Andrew McNamara for Colin Bowe at 5/1. Moonlight Boy was sent off the 5/4 favourite under Alan Crowe for Christy Roche, and after unseating Crowe before the start, the seven-year-old pulled hard in the early stages, going into a clear lead.

He jumped right at the third and fourth flights and ran off the bend before the next, jumping badly right again at the fifth.

He jumped badly right again at the sixth and he was soon pulled up on the wide outside.

James Motherway said afterwards: "It is nice to get than one and we are delighted with him.

"He has a net over his nose, it is like a muzzle but he can breathe through it, it just makes him back off the bit a bit, and it makes it easier for the jockey.

"Paul said he was little keen going to the first but after that he was putty in his hands. He was able to ride a race on him today.

"This horses biggest problem has been his temperament as he has been too keen and he has been killing himself in races.

"The last day, even though we got in trouble, was the first day he actually finished a race.

"It is nice that he has won well and he jumped well.

"That is probably as soft as he wants it, we will mind him with the ground and see where he goes now."

STEWARDS REPORT

Alan Crowe, rider of Moonlight Boy, trained by C.Roche, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount is a difficult horse, that unseated him on the way to the start, hung badly right throughout and jumped badly right and was subsequently pulled up.

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Moonlight Boy, trained by C.Roche, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be Post Race Normal.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson