It was all going on in the first split of the Ryans Cleaning Event Specialists Handicap Hurdle at Tipperary with a false start and a lengthy steward's enquiry. The placings of the first two were reversed and Clounts Meadows got the prize. Knockraha King with Paul Townend up, briefly edged into second home, Clounts Meadows, on the run-in, and with the margin just a short head at the line the officials had a tricky call to make.

Betting on the outcome always had Knockraha King at odds-on but it was hardly the biggest surprise in the world when Clounts Meadows was promoted under Ricky Doyle.

Mick Winters trains Clounts Meadows, and his gains came at the expense of brother-in-law Adrian Maguire who handles Knockraha King for the O'Donoghues.

"I backed him at 12/1 and couldn't understand why he wasn't 5/1 - maybe the whole place followed me I suppose (returned at 8/1)!" commented Winters.

"He has had his problems but had luck on his side and you'd have been happy with a dead-heat. I wouldn't have been crying too much if we didn't get it.

"He'll go for something similar next and might also chance a fence soon."

The well-fancied Delayed Eloquence appeared to clip a heel and slip up early in the back straight. The mare and Philip Enright seemed okay afterwards.

The Stewards enquired into possible interference from the turn into the straight involving Knockraha King, ridden by P. Townend, placed first and Clounts Meadows, ridden by R.A. Doyle, placed second. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were of the opinion that interference had occurred and that the winner had improved his finishing position as a result of this interference. They therefore amended the judge's placings to read :

First: Clouts Meadows

Second: Knockraha King

Third: Broder 0AFourth: Tunnel Creek 0AFifth: Sir Jack Yeats 0AD.E. Mullins, rider of The Trigger trained by Ronan M.P. McNally, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount jumped slowly.

P.T. Enright, rider of Delayed Eloquence, trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount accidentally clipped heels and fell.

(TW & EM)