Highland Charge wins Kingsfurze for Meade and Flanagan

Noel Meade's Highland Charge just saw off Vina Ardanza after a thrilling battle in the Grade 3 Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle in Naas.

Highland Charge and Sean Flanagan got on terms with Deploy The Getaway at the penultimate flight, however, smooth-travelling Vina Ardanza got a lovely seam up the inside to throw down the gauntlet.

The pair jumped the last in unison and Vina Ardanza began to shade the argument in the closing stages. He was driven home by a head at 10/1 from the 8/1 runner-up with the pair coming close in the closing stages. Slip Of The Tongue the 7/4 favourite, kept on for third on the run-in.

Flanagan said: “We got close after the last but I won cosy enough.

“He was good here the last day in what was a nice enough maiden.

“The slower ground today was a big help to him. He’s a lovely horse."

The Stewards enquired into possible interference on the approach to the final hurdle where there was no running rail involving Deploy The Getaway, ridden by S.F. O'Keeffe, placed fifth, Highland Charge, ridden by S.W. Flanagan, placed first, and Vina Ardanza, ridden by D.N. Russell, placed second, where it appeared that Deploy The Getaway checked when tight for room between horses. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. In his evidence, S.F. O'Keeffe stated that his mount jumped right at the second last hurdle and Vina Ardanza (D.N. Russell) came up on his inner where there was no running rail and on meeting the next direction post his own mount got tightened by both horses immediately in front of him and he reacted by checking off a heel. S.W. Flanagan stated that there was only Deploy The Getaway (S.F. O'Keeffe) on his inner after jumping the second last hurdle and he felt that his own mount had maintained a straight line. D.N. Russell stated that Deploy The Getaway had jumped right and his own mount arrived on the inner full of running. He accepted that he had gone inside the line of the track between the boundary posts. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards made no alteration to the Judges placings in relation to this incident. They were, however, of the opinion that both D.N. Russell and S.W. Flanagan were in breach of Rule 214 in that they had ridden carelessly and having considered their clean records in this regard, the Stewards cautioned both riders on this occasion.

The Stewards enquired into possible interference inside the final two hundred yards involving Highland Charge, ridden by S.W. Flanagan, placed first, and Vina Ardanza, ridden by D.N. Russell, placed second, where it appeared that both horses came close and interference may have taken place. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. D.N. Russell stated that in a very close finish his mount had been tightened when racing on the inner and in his opinion this had cost him the winning of the race. S.W. Flanagan stated that Vina Ardanza came out from the running rail to meet his own mount and it got tight for a stride. A few strides later his own mount leaned inwards and was corrected and straightened when the whip hand was switched. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards made no alteration to the Judges placings and took no further action.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee