Hamilton defies slipping saddle to win on Punk Poet

Tom Hamilton produced a fine display of horsemanship to win the ONEILLS.COM (Q.R.) Handicap on Punk Poet despite his saddle slipping from an early stage.

The four-time Dundalk winner, sent off a 7/1 chance, was in the front rank throughout and took a definite advantage from halfway by which point Hamilton's saddle had clearly shifted to the left. He rode the final quarter mile with his left stirrup noticeably lower than his right one and had to readjust himself a couple of times but his six-year-old mount was clearly enjoying the surface and strode out well to beat Barbapapa by three and a-quarter lengths.

Eddie Lynam trains the winner for his wife Aileen and said: "I've never had a slipped saddle before that I can remember.

"This is a big fat fella (Punk Poet)! When I was saddling him, I said 'they're a bit tight' and I let the girths out.

"The jockey, in fairness, got them checked at the start.

"He only jumped out and it (saddle) has gone.

"Sarah (Lynam, daughter) picked the jockey and said he was very good and I said to Sarah two and a-half out 'you know nothing' but, in fairness to him, there was nothing he could do!

"I always blame the jockey!"

Quotes from Michael Graham