Robin Gold (Patrick Mullins) holds off She's Made It (Aine O'Connor)© Photo Healy Racing
A lengthy steward’s enquiry saw the positions of the first two horses remain unaltered in the concluding Powerstown Demesne (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle at Clonmel. Winner Robin Gold drifted left on the run-in in the near two and a half miler, impeding She’s Made It more than once, but the result stood.
When She’s Made It made a mistake two out things looked to have decisively swung in favour of her fellow market leader.
However under Aine O’Connor the Padraig Roche-trained runner-up was quicker at the last to get herself back into it.
The head on showed the Patrick Mullins-ridden Robin Gold drifting markedly into She’s Made It’s path on the run-in. O’Connor never stopped riding and half a length split them.
The betting was pretty strongly in favour of She’s Made It on the enquiry, so it was something of a surprise then, when the steward’s left the judge’s placings as they were.
Padraig Roche has care of She’s Made It for J P McManus whilst Jonathan Fogarty trains home-bred Robin Gold for his Gaynestown Stud County Wexford-based family.
It was a change of luck for Jonathan and his brother, jockey Mikey. They were unfortunate when losing out, hurling with St Anne’s, in Sunday’s Wexford Senior County Final.
Warm favourites St Martin’s edged that Innovate Wexford Park showdown by just two points.
Mr J.J. Codd, rider of Tiger Twenty Two (GB) trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung and did not handle the ground.
The Stewards received a report from Mr. Hugh Hynes, Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Clerk of the Scales, regarding the fact that Mr J.W. Hannon, rider of Thats Mypresenting weighed in at 1.5 lbs overweight. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned, who accepted that this was the case. Having considered the evidence, the Stewards were satisfied that Mr. J.W. Hannon was in breach of Rule 231 and they therefore cautioned him on this occasion.
The Stewards enquired into possible interference in the closing stages of this race involving She's Made It ridden by Miss A.B. O'Connor, placed second and Robin Gold, ridden by Mr P.W. Mullins, placed first, where it appeared that Robin Gold drifted off a straight line and caused interference. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards made no alteration to the Judge's placings and took no further action.
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Tiger Twenty Two (GB), trained by Gordon Elliott, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
(EM)
