Busy mum-to-be in winning Dash Ado McGuinness and Ronan Whelan (favourite to be champion apprentice of 2012) are having a campaign to remember and the pair were on the mark again with Dash Back (3rd behind Fairy Wing at Leopardstown just last night) in the Made In The Dark Handicap at Down Royal. Without success since December 2010, the victorious seven-year-old daughter of Sahm was ridden to lead over a furlong out and she kept on well to hold off Golden Shoe (came home well) by a length and a half. McGuinness said: "She ran a blinder when third at Leopardstown last night. "I was going to wait for Galway but I took her to the beach this morning and she was going crazy so I decided to run her. "She's in foal to Mastercraftsman and she'll turn up in Galway on the Sunday in a seven furlong handicap." The Stewards enquired into an incident in the closing stages involving One Of Three, ridden by G F Carroll, placed 4th, Chillie Billie (GB), ridden by A P Thornton unplaced, and Patrickswell, ridden by D P McDonagh, unplaced. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were of that opinion that A P Thornton was in breach of rule 214 in that he had ridden improperly and having taken his previous record in this regard into account, they suspended him for three race days. The Stewards interviewed Mr J R Banahan, Turf Club Starter, after they received a report from M.A. Cleere, rider of He’s Got Rhythm, stating that his stall opened slowly in this race. Evidence was heard from the starter, who stated that he had tested the stalls prior to loading which is standard procedure and found the stalls to be in working order. He gave an undertaking to retest the stalls prior to loading for the next race and subsequently reported that they were found to be in perfect working order and so continued to use them for the remainder of the card. Having considered the evidence, the Stewards noted the explanation offered. (MG & EM)
