Liberty Island follows up

Apprentice and ten-pound claimer Ross Coakley was seen to good effect on board Liberty Island in Down Royal’s opening five furlong sprint.

The pair swooped to land the spoils by a head from Queen Grace and a short head from Gandolfini

The win followed up on the duo’s pillar-to-post victory at Dundalk’s all-weather track last week.

Alan O’Flynn, assistant to successful trainer Ken Condon and part of the winning Iona Equine Syndicate from Cork, said: “He’s a five furlong specialist. Ross rides him at home and he is improving all the time as a jockey.

“The horse likes those races. They suit him. He just did enough today and he likes good ground.”

Fran Berry who rode third-placed Gandolfini was deemed to have caused interference to Declan McDonogh and Ucanchoose who ran short of room and had to check.

The stewards were of the opinion that Berry had ridden carelessly and suspended him for three days.

The stewards then interviewed Berry in relation to comments he made, directed personally to the stewards when receiving this suspension.

Evidence was heard from Berry who accepted that his comments were hurtful and offered a sincere apology and categorically stated that there was nothing directed to any individual/individuals and was most disappointed with his own actions.

Having taken the jockey's apology into consideration the stewards found that the rider was in breech of Rule 272 and suspended him for 2 race days.

Michael Graham