Powered home by Conor Hoban Romann (far-side) prevailed by a nose in the penultimate event at Dundalk© Photo Healy Racing
The wise words of John Oxx at the Curragh on Monday came to mind after Pat Flynn doubled up at Dundalk this afternoon. It was also a brace for Conor Hoban when Romann triumphed in the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap (DIV I).
“When it’s your day it’s your day and when it’s not you’ll win nothing” reflected the Currabeg maestro at HQ at the start of the week, on the occasion of his final runners.
Oxx was recalling Group One doubles when Sea The Stars won the Arc, followed by Alandi winning the Cadran in 2009.
Namid in the l’Abbaye, and Sinndar also in the Arc, gave ‘Gentleman John’ another memorable day at Longchamp in 2000.
Albeit on another stratosphere Whatharm (13/2) and Romann (28/1) brought a spell of over a hundred runners without a winner to an end for the Flynn yard, and the latter left behind some pretty unappealing form.
To further emphasise Oxx’s point, Romann got there by a nose, to beat King Lennox, with well-backed favourite Irish Poseidon a neck back in third. Macaban City was a head behind in fourth.
“I’m absolutely thrilled for Pat Flynn. He’s been a great supporter of mine and he has a hard working team between Danny (Grant) and Eoghan (Norris),” said Hoban.
“The horses have been in and out all year but he deserves this luck and hopefully we’ll have a good winter.
“He’d been working well and was working with Whatharm. He just hasn’t been doing it on the track up to now.
“Pat’s horses are back in form and it just goes to show when a yard is going well the horses thrive. To his credit he stuck his head down when it mattered.”
Sam Ewing, rider of Irish Poseidon (GER) trained by Matthew J. Smith, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was slowly away out of the starting stalls.
G.P. Halpin, rider of Pinch A Penny trained by William J. Fitzpatrick, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount reared up when the starting stalls opened.
James J. Doyle, rider of Macaban City trained by Gerard Michael Hussey, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was slowly away out of the starting stalls.
The Stewards interviewed C.P. Hoban, rider of Romann, concerning his use of the whip in the closing stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were satisfied that C.P. Hoban was in breach of Regulation 10.3(g)(frequency) and having considered his record, they cautioned him on this occasion.
The Stewards requested a report from Patrick J.Flynn, trainer as to the apparent improvement in form of Romann, placed first, as compared with its recent form. Eoghan Norris, Authorised Representative for the trainer, reported that the yard had been under a cloud for sometime for no apparent reason and appeared to turn the corner today with the yard having two winners. Having considered the report, the Stewards noted the explanation offered.
(AM & EM)
