Great return for David Mullins in 2nd as Funky Dady triumphs

Funky Dady took the Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse as Grand National winning jockey David Mullins made an excellent return to the fray in second place on Barnaviddaun

Mullins has been out since serious injuries sustained in a fall from Lean And Keen at Thurles on October 24th.

The Denis Hogan-trained and Paul Cawley-ridden Funky Dady took over travelling well from Barnaviddaun at the second last.

Mullins’ mount, trained by his father Tom, came again on the run-in and only went down by three parts of a length at the finish.

Denis Hogan is in Qatar with Make A Challenge who finished sixth at Doha today.

It was left to Cawley to explain: “I probably got there sooner than I would have liked. He was starting to idle between the second last and the last but thankfully he stayed going well.

“He was only doing what he had to do at all times. When he heard the other horse coming he stayed going again. It's great to get it.”

The Stewards enquired into the running and riding of Surfing Tenor (GB), ridden by C.P. McNamara, and trained by Gavin Cromwell.

Evidence was heard from the rider and trainer concerned.

C.P. McNamara, stated that he has ridden the horse at home and that it can be keen.

His instructions today were to drop his mount in, get him to settle as he can be free and get him to run as well as he can.

He felt that the leaders had gone too fast up front.

Turning for home he pulled his mount out wide and he then got pushed further out but that he jumped the last two flights well and had stayed on past exhausted horses.

Gavin Cromwell, stated that his charge can run free, wore earplugs today and had not run since April.

He confirmed that the instructions he gave the rider were to jump off last and get him to settle.

He stated that C. P. McNamara had ridden to instructions however he was not satisfied with how his charge was ridden in the closing stages of the race as C. P. McNamara could clearly have put his mount in the race more.

The Stewards also received a report from the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer who stated that Surfing Tenor was slightly lame post race.

Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards noted Gavin Cromwell's explanation, however the stewards found C. P. McNamara in breach of Rule 212 A (ii) in that he had not made a genuine attempt to obtain from his mount timely, real and substantial efforts to achieve the best possible placing.

Having considered C. P. McNamara's record in this regard the stewards suspended C. P. McNamara for 10 racedays and ordered that he forfeit his riding fee.

Furthermore, the stewards in accordance with Rule 212 (A) (v) imposed a 42 day suspension on Surfing Tenor .

D.N. Russell, rider of Zihuatanejo trained by Anthony John Black, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount took a false step at the back of the third last flight and he thought that it may have been struck into.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Zihuatanejo, trained by Anthony John Black, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be lame post race.

(GC & EM)