Reserve All Class lands huge touch in Navan First reserve All Class got a run in the first split of the mile and five handicap at Navan and landed a major gamble. Nathan Crosse came in for the ride and steered his charge into third coming down the hill in the home straight. All Class was ridden into the lead a furlong and a half from home but soon faced a challenge from Crassus. The leader refused to yield, though, and increased her margin in the closing stages as she was driven out by Crosse. She won by two and a quarter lengths at 9/2 but that doesn't tell the full story. She was available at 66/1 this morning and was backed down at all prices from an opening show of 20/1. Crassus was a beaten favourite in second at 3/1 and came home in front of morning-price gamble Djasek who drifted out to 5/1 on the off. Indignation (7/1) finished fourth for his each-way backers. Trainer David Dunne said: “My horses were under a cloud over the winter and I’m not really sure what was going on. They have been running well lately and this mare had been working way better than she was over the winter. The last few weeks she was staying with Declaration Of War and I fancied her today because of it. “It’s great to get another winner for my uncle ((Paul Dunne). She’s a very difficult filly and had to come today with a companion as she starts fretting. We’ve learned how to manage her. “She handles the ground and stayed the trip well. I only knew at 9 this morning that we were going to get a run. I said a prayer to get in and thankfully she did!” The Stewards interviewed N.M. Crosse, rider of All Class (FR), concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. In his evidence he accepted that he had breached the whip Regulations and offered no defence. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that N.M. Crosse was in breach of R10(3)(g) by using his whip with excessive frequency. Having taken his clean recent record into consideration, the Stewards suspended N.M. Crosse for one race day. The Stewards enquired into the apparent improvement in form of All Class (FR), trained by David Peter Dunne, placed first, compared with its previous form. Evidence was heard from the trainer concerned who stated that his uncle, Paul Dunne, had acquired this filly about last November from her previous trainer. At that time her racing form had been abysmal. She was very difficult to handle and having previously competed mostly in National Hunt races she took a heavy fall in Tramore when travelling well. The fall appeared to make her very nervous and he decided to revert back to flat races to get her to regain her confidence. In his opinion she improved with each run. He outlined that his yard had been out of form since last November with aspergillus and consequently he changed the bedding and fodder amongst other things. In his opinion his horses were not sick with the aspergillus but at the same time they were not running well. He admitted that he ran some horses while not at their best but was under pressure from owners to do so. When questioned on the very strong market support today for his charge which had never previously been placed, he admitted that he got a number of calls this morning as is normal when he has runners and he informed all callers that his charge was back to form and going well. He also referred to her previous run at Dundalk where she was the subject of a running and riding enquiry which had been instigated by market moves in the betting. Having considered the evidence the Stewards under the provisions of Rule 14(ii)(b) referred the matter to the CEO of the IHRB for further investigation. Additional reporting by Alan Magee
