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Punchestown 2024
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- Frenzy Whips up a success
Frenzy Whips up a success
Whip Up A Frenzy (Billy Lee) beats Private Party and Rest Assured
© Photo Healy Racing
Whip Up A Frenzy a son of Kildangan Stud-based first-season sire Vale Of York, landed the www.dundalkstadium.com Nursery Handicap under Billy Lee.
Lee always had the Andy Oliver runner near the pace and the 5/1 shot took over at halfway.
In the end he fought off the well-backed favourite Private Party by half a length.
"Billy gave him a great ride – he's very straight–forward and he showed a bit up here the last time.
"We liked him earlier in the season," said Oliver.
"We felt at Leopardstown that he didn't really pick up on the soft ground and my worry here was that seven furlongs would be a bit sharp for him as his best work was late on the last day.
"The owners (the Richmansplayground Partnership) was set-up by Chris Armstrong. He worked for me for a bit but he got on the Darley Flying Start programme and he now works for Gai Waterhouse in Australia.
"He's a horse that'll now continue in handicap company."
The Stewards interviewed Adrian McGuinness, trainer, concerning the failure to nominate a rider before the designated time for Arterial. Evidence was heard from the trainer who stated that he tried all yesterday morning to secure a rider able to ride at 8-4. After ringing a number of agents, he was unable to secure a rider before the time of declaration. He continued in his efforts to secure a rider after declaration time, and made contact with R.P. Downey, a 5lb claimer, who also stated he would ride at 2lbs overweight. Mr McGuinness declared him at scales prior to racing, however once R.P. Downey arrived at the track he needed to lose 3lbs, which he planned to lose in the sauna, but the sauna wasn't working, meaning R.P Downey would've carried 5lb overweight. Once the situation became apparent at the races, he tried to secure any rider who could ride even 3lb overweight, but there was no rider available who could ride at 8-7.
He added that this has been the third occasion that he has had a horse withdrawn due to 'No suitable rider' available to ride off the minimum weight.
Having considered the evidence, the Stewards allowed Arterial to be withdrawn with their Permission - no suitable rider, and referred the matter onto the Chief Executive of the Turf Club for further investigation.
The Stewards interviewed J.T. Gorman, trainer of Vicarage regarding his request to allow nominated rider Gearoid Patrick Brouder to ride at 8-0 st, his minimum riding weight, which would be 3lbs overweight.
Evidence was heard from the trainer concerned, who stated that he had 2 horses entered in the race, but at declaration stage it became apparent that there would be a shortage of riders able to ride at 8-4, so he only declared 1 horse, Vicarage, and since he failed to secure a rider able to ride at 8-4, he wanted to use Gearoid Patrick Brouder as he knows the horse from home.
Having considered the evidence, the Stewards allowed the nominated rider to ride at 3lbs overweight due to the exceptional circumstances and took no further action.
C.R. King, rider of Octavia trained by David Marnane, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount stumbled on the home turn as he switched off the heels of a horse dropping back.
(MG & EM)