Weather gets verdict in bunch finish

The judge had his work cut out in the Beamish Pub Challenge Handicap at Bellewstown as Mt Weather swooped late to edge a bunch finish. Sovereign Secure and Queen Grace battled it out from over a furlong out and were joined inside the final furlong by Big Bad Lily

The later looked to just be edging it close home only for Mt Weather to fly home on the outer and get up on the line under Declan McDonogh.

The winner had attracted a few quid, from 20/1 in morning into 10/1, and winning trainer Dick Donohoe said:-

"It's horses for courses - he loves this place. He's very unpredictable. I thought he would run well at Naas last time but he didn't.

"He could have won this race four years running as he took it in 2008 and today and was just beaten the two years in between.

"He'll go to Laytown as he also likes it there and if there is a similar race here in August he'll come back."

It was a welcome winner for Donohoe, who had last struck when the same horse scored at Tipperary almost a year ago.

The stewards enquired into the running and riding of Rowayton who stayed on late from the rear to finish eighth, and found connections in breach of Rule 212 (non-triers rule).

Trainer Muredach Kelly was hit with a €1,000 fine while jockey Andrew Thornton got a 10-day ban. The horse was banned for 42 days.