Busy Downey is on a roll

Second favourite Milestone Miss had to be withdrawn (necessitated a 15c Rule 4) from the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle as she wasn't fitted with her declared visor (see below). That'll have mattered little to Conor Brassil (2nd winner) or Pat Downey as their Dream Crusher scored in good style at Thurles.

Coming back from point-to-points having scored at Tinahely last month and equipped with cheek-pieces for the first time under Rules, the stable companion to The King Of Brega (an easy winner of two handicap hurdles in recent times) is also by the Boardsmill Stud-based stallion Court Cave.

Dream Crusher loomed up behind the pace setting Hold The Fire from three out, he was in front in the straight and ultimately it was comfortable for him at the finish as he defeated the market-leader Bank Bonus by ten lengths.

Downey is a busy man right now and he disclosed: "My brother (Eddie) is running for the IFA (Irish Farmers Association) presidency and I've be canvassing all week down in Cork.

"This horse is an enigma. He pulled up twice during the summer and then we decided to school him over fences and he seemed to enjoy it better.

"We seem to be training him less and he seems to be enjoying life more. When he won his point the last day he'd just taken the lead when the other horse fell (Pure Poteen, a subsequent winner).

"He's been working so well but he's a good ground horse and I've nothing immediate in mind.

"He's owned by Bill Fenlon, a dentist from Dublin."

The Stewards interviewed Timothy Doyle, trainer, in relation to the observation in the parade ring that his charge Milestone Miss was fitted with blinkers instead of the declared visor which resulted in the animals withdrawal under rule 194(ii)(c)(i) when a set of visors could not be located. Evidence was heard from the trainer concerned who stated that he thought that he had the correct headgear but now accepted that he was not familiar with the design of a visor. Having considered the evidence, the Stewards fined Timothy Doyle €100 for a breach of rule 194(ii)(b).

(TW & EM)