Winning Smut provides Elliott with further feature race success

Gordon Elliott claimed a third feature race success of the week at Galway, as his Winning Smut led home 19 rivals in the BoyleSports Handicap Hurdle.

Now two from three since joining Elliott upon the retirement of Michael Hourigan, the Yeats six-year-old was unlucky when second on his most recent start at Killarney.

Sent off a 13/2 joint-favourite this afternoon and settled behind the leaders by Jack Kennedy, he poked through a gap on the inner approaching two out and gained an outright advantage shortly after that flight.

Ridden and kept up to his work on the run-in, he ultimately came home two-and-a-quarter lengths to the good in the colours of Denis Reddan.

Running his best race for quite some time, Fascile Mode (33/1) filled the runner-up spot under Jake Coen for Tom Mullins, while Chart Topper (8/1) and Teed Up (8/1) were close behind in third and fourth respectively.

The other joint-favourite was Maughreen with this one failing to make an impact and finishing down the field under Paul Townend.

"We didn't know how good he was coming into this but he scraped in down the bottom of the weights and having a feather weight in those competitive handicaps helps," Lisa O'Neill, representing Elliott, reflected.

"Jack gave him a beautiful ride up the inside and said he got there too soon but he toughed it out well.

"It is great for his owners as they have been in racing for a long, long time and they are delighted to have a winner here at Galway. He is a homebred so it means so much to them and hopefully there is plenty more for him over the coming months."

Elliott won the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle with Western Fold and Ndaawi respectively, with the latter awarded the race in the stewards room.

STEWARDS REPORTS

The Raceday Stewards enquired into an incident on the run to the second last involving Fascile Mode, ridden by J. Coen, placed second, and Winning Smut, ridden by J.W. Kennedy, placed first, where it appeared interference may have occurred. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. J. Coen said he was riding to meet the rail when he realised J.W. Kennedy was on his inside so he left room. J.W. Kennedy said he received minor interference. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards took no further action.

The Raceday Stewards enquired into the start of this race where it appeared Dream On Baby ridden by D. Meyler, was left a distance behind and did not participate in the race. Evidence was heard from the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Starter, Mr. J.R. Banahan and D. Meyler, rider of Dream on Baby. Mr. J.R. Banahan said he had instructed all riders to go back to the hurdle behind them after their initial approach to him. He added not all riders went back as instructed. However, he accepted D. Meyler had gone back and was aware that he was behind and heard him calling out but thought he was closer to the field. D. Meyler said he was the only rider to fully comply with the starters instructions and the starter started the race when he was too for back and all chance was gone. Having viewed the recording of the start and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards using their powers under Rule 209(v), (starter error) declared Dream On Baby a non runner. Having decided that this was a case of starter error, the Raceday Stewards referred this finding and the issues of compliance of all riders (except D. Meyler) with the starters instructions to a Senior Racing Official for further investigation.

D. Meyler, rider of Dream On Baby, trained by Emmet Mullins, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that he was the only one to do what he was told at the start and he was left 10 lengths as a consequence.

P. Townend, rider of Maughreen, trained by W.P. Mullins, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount completed the race but got injured after the line.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes