Writers Block wins Leopardstown farce

Unconsidered outsider Writers Block gained an infamous win in the Leopardstown Club Membership (Q.R.) Maiden at Leopardstown today, a race in which winning trainer Keith Watson later “blamed the other jockeys” for his horse's success.

The race turned farcical from an early stage and after the event, as expected, each of the losing jockeys was subsequently suspended.

The six runners for the 1m6f event set off at a slow early pace but within a few hundred yards, eventual winning jockey Alan Wells, on Writers Block, elected to go to the front.

Writers Block (50/1 chance and returned at 299/1 on Betfair) soon opened up a huge lead over his five rivals, each of which was content to sit well off the 'pace'. With just three furlongs to race, Writers Block held an advantage of half a furlong as the pack then elected to give chase. Cullentry Royal (11/10f) closed down the deficit to 50 yards with a furlong to race but at the line, Writers Block held a 14 lengths advantage over that rival, with Train Of Thought two lengths further behind.

In truth, ten year old gelding Writers Block seemed to have little business coming to Leopardstown for a race of this nature and had little to recommend him except his pedigree (by Lil's Boy and bred by Harry Dobson) and two point to point wins. However his recent form figures read 'P'7PPP96PFP-P', each gained in point to points and hunter chases.

Following the shock win, winning trainer Keith Watson stated “that definitely wasn't expected and I blame all the other jockeys!”

He added “who's going to give a three miler two furlongs of a 'start'. They got what they deserved and while they were catching him hand-over-fist, shur he was well gone by then. I said beforehand if they went a stupid pace at the start to 'go on' because he'll stay three miles.”

Winning jockey Wells was recording his first winner, having also partnered Writers Block to two point to point wins, and later revealed “I had a look around on the far side and couldn't see anyone so I just kept kicking. They seemed to be going slow when they jumped out of the stalls so I thought 'this boy isn't going to settle in behind', so I'll just flick on here and see what happens. Lucky enough for me he stayed going at the end!”

The race resulted in all bar the winning jockey being called before the Stewards with each rider subsequently handed a four day suspension.

The rule under which the five beaten jockeys received their suspension was Rule 212 which relates to “not taking reasonable measures to give their horses every opportunity of winning”.

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson