Wodhooh awarded Harvest Festival opener

The opening race of the Listowel Harvest Festival, the Kerry Group 3YO Hurdle, produced a dramatic conclusion, with Wodhooh awarded this two-mile contest in the stewards room.

Without success in four outings on the level when trained by Michael Stoute, the winning daughter of Le Harve was starting off for Gordon Elliott and the Sundowners Partnership this afternoon.

Making her debut over flights, the 5/1 chance raced mainly in second and wasn't fluent at times under Jordan Gainford.

Sent to the front before two out, she was soon strongly pressed and headed, but rallied when ridden away from the last. Hampered on the inner on the run-in, she eventually went down by just a short head.

Returned the 8/15 favourite, Nurburgring was first across the line, but was correctly demoted to second, after edging towards his left on the run-in.

The front pair went six-and-a-half lengths clear of Spinning Web in third, with newcomer Hands On an eye-catching fourth.

"It's not an ideal way to win a race but she is a nice mare and will be alright," Elliott commented.

"She will go for a winners' race and will probably end up in Aintree in the Listed race in December.

"To be honest, looking at it in-running, I thought there would be an enquiry and while it was only a short-head, it is never an ideal way to get a race. We wouldn't have been disappointed if she had finished second but we're happy with the way she ran."

STEWARDS REPORT

The Raceday Stewards enquired into possible interference in the closing stages involving Nurburgring, ridden by J.J. Slevin, placed first and Wodhooh (FR), ridden by J.C. Gainford, placed second, where it appeared that interference may have occurred. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. In his evidence, J.C. Gainford stated that he was at least a head in front on jumping the last hurdle and received a bump from Nurburgring a stride after the last which took him off his line and unbalanced his mount and cost him vital ground. J.J. Slevin stated that his horse shifted slightly left after the last hurdle but felt he was always holding Wodhooh on the run to the line. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards were of the opinion that Nurburgring had caused interference to Wodhooh and as a result of this interference had improved it’s finishing position. As a consequence, the Raceday Stewards reversed the placings of the First and Second placed horses and amended the result to read as follows:

Amended Result:

First: Wodhooh

Second: Nurburgring

Third: Spinning Web

Fourth: Hands On

Fifth: Burvea 0ASixth: Ifitwasme 0AFurthermore, the Raceday Stewards were of the opinion that J.J. Slevin was in breach of Rule 214 in that he had ridden carelessly, and having considered his record in this regard they suspended him for four racedays.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes