2 for Townend at 55/1

Paul Townend kept a profitable evening at Ballinrobe going when thirty five minutes on from his win on He Is Top Class the former champion brought Kris Kindle home for his fellow Cork man, Edmond Kent, in the Ballinrobe Race Committee Mares Handicap Hurdle.

The successful Kris Kin mare was popular from earlier in the day for this two and a half miler and she eventually went off a 7/1 chance.

Townend's 55/1 brace was secured after his mount travelled well near the pace throughout, and she was faster at the last than Tri Na Ceile eventually holding that one by half a length with two lengths to Presenting Mahler in third.

"She jumped those hurdles a bit big for me early today but when she warmed up she was good and she was good at the last," reported Townend.

"She had a nice light weight. She had been running on heavy winter ground and we thought she wanted a bit nicer ground. She got through that today anyway."

The Stewards received a report from P.W. Murtagh , Turf Club Clerk of the Scales, regarding the fact that L.P. Dempsey , rider of Blackandamber Vic , presented himself at scales to weigh out at 3 lbs overweight and had attempted to weigh out with a body protector that had the crotch strap removed and presented himself again at a later stage without the girths included in his weight.

Evidence was heard from the rider concerned, who admitted that he had removed the crotch strap as he had difficulty doing the weight. He further accepted that he presented himself at 3.3lbs overweight and had failed to declare at the overnight declaration stage that he might be 2lbs overweight and furthermore had failed to attempt to ride at the correct weight.

He also accepted that the girths were not evident at the time of weighing out as they were wrapped in the non slip pad but on a further return to the scales to attempt to weigh out the girths were missing.

Having considered the evidence, the Stewards were satisfied that L.P. Dempsey was guilty of all charges put before him and was therefore in breach of Rule 195 (i), 198 (i), 198(v) and R10.

The Stewards fined L.P. Dempsey 150 Euros for a breach of Rule 195 (i)(overweight) and furthermore suspended him for 14 racedays for repeated offences at scales which amounted to breaches of Rules 198(i), 198(v) and R10 (Equipment and body protector).

The Stewards received a report from P.W. Murtagh , Turf Club Clerk of the Scales, regarding the fact that J.M. Moore , rider of Sounds Of Thunder (GB) , weighed in at 1.6 lbs overweight and furthermore his saddle was missing a leather and iron.

Evidence was heard from the rider concerned, who stated that he was doing a light weight and only sucked two ice cubes after weighing out. He added that the leather and iron were attached to his saddle when he dismounted and could not account for their disappearance between the parade ring and the weighing scales.

Having considered the evidence, the Stewards were satisfied that rider J.M. Moore was in breach of Rule 231 and they therefore suspended him for 1 raceday.

(DM & EM)