Pony champ Ryan rides 1st track winner

Rossa Ryan (16) rode his first winner as the pony racing champion from this year landed the spoils on 20/1 shot Solar Heat in the second division of the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Apprentice Handicap at Dundalk.

Ryan is apprenticed to his father David near Tuam in County Galway and here he showed his undoubted talent to get Solar Heat home by a length and three parts from Chatterton

Ciaran Murphy, assistant to winning trainer Dot Love, said: "She'd a good run the last day and got blocked off a furlong out.

"She'll go back over hurdles but will not run in the depths of winter. She might have a break now, and will go over fences next season. She's a very consistent mare."

The Stewards imposed a fine of €200 on C.J. Gavin, rider, for failing to present himself to weigh out on Gold Not Silver trained by Adrian Brendan Joyce, in this race.

The Stewards allowed D.E. Hogan as replacement rider.

The Stewards interviewed D.E. Hogan, rider of Gold Not Silver, concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race.

Evidence was heard from the rider concerned.

Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards found D.E. Hogan in breach of Reg. 10 3.(f) by using his whip with excessive frequency and suspended him for five race days.

The Stewards enquired into the circumstances regarding the mistaken withdrawal of reserve Gretzky (GB) trained by Matthew J Smith from this race at the closure of the card before racing began.

Evidence was heard from racecourse Chief Executive, Jim Martin and the trainer involved.

The trainer stated that he declared Gretzky (GB) by fax this morning to the racecourse. He confirmed the fax with a follow-up phone call.

Jim Martin confirmed that the fax was received by the racecourse and was delivered to the weigh room and left there in the afternoon.

However this fax was not subsequently received by the Clerk of the Scales and was the horse was withdrawn in error at the closure of the card as it was understood that the horse was not an intended runner.

Once this error was discovered the Stewards using their powers under Rule 194 (ix) reinstated Gretzky (GB) as a runner because they were satisfied that the withdrawal was due to a mistaken action and referred the matter to the CEO of The Turf Club for further investigation.

(AM & EM)