Permission was given for Lancashire Life (GB) to wear a red hood to post.

The Stewards held an enquiry into the start to establish why Beleaguerment (IRE) drawn 8, ridden by Oisin Orr, had left the stalls rider-less.

Orr and the Starters were interviewed and shown recordings of the start.

Having heard their evidence, the Stewards noted Orr’s explanation that Beleaguerment (IRE) had become very fractious in the stalls after the removal of the blindfold and tried to dive under the front of the stalls.

At this point he was seated on the adjoining stall partition to his inside and focussed solely on trying to control the gelding’s unruly behaviour, which led to him not being fully mounted when the start was effected.

The Stewards ordered that BELEAGUEURMENT (IRE) was deemed not to have started and under Rule (H)6, instructed the gelding to be withdrawn.

The Starter reported that Beleaguerment (IRE) had been unruly in the stalls and was withdrawn.

H.

D.

McGuigan was informed that the gelding could not run until the day after passing a stalls test.

Following the race, Clifford Lee reported that Elf Rising (GB), unplaced, moved poorly in the final furlong; the Veterinary Officer reported that a post-race examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

Oisin Murphy reported that Too Funky (GB), unplaced, was denied a clear run for some distance approaching the home turn.