Fairly Legal presents his case well

Fairly Legal picked off Call It Magic before the last and was kept up to his work to land the two mile three maiden hurdle at Naas.

The front two pulled clear of a toiling Haymount after the third last and had the race to themselves.

Mark Walsh was virtually motionless on Fairly Legal as he stalked Andrew Lynch and Call It Magic. It looked only a matter of time before 7/4 favourite Fairly Legal took over and that moment came approaching the last when he moved to the head of affairs.

He jumped the final flight a couple of lengths up and Walsh shook him up to repel Call It Magic by four and a half lengths. The runner-up was backed in from 10/3 to 11/4.

Haymount (2/1) could make no impression in third, a further seven lengths down.

Handler Robert Tyner said: “He’s a nice horse and did it well. It was a great display of jumping and he travelled well. I bought him as an unbroken three-year-old at the Land Rover Sale.

“He was off for a while and may have just needed it the last day. He stays well.”

Regarding the ill-fated Carrigmoorna Rock who suffered a fatal fall in the previous race, he said: "She was dead as soon as she hit the ground. It’s an awful shame as her dam (Carrigmorna Flyer) died recently as well, and she has produced four black-type horses.”

The Stewards interviewed BM Cash, rider of Crowsgrove concerning his use of the whip in the closing stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were of the opinion that the rider was in breach of Regulation 10.3.(b) in that he had used his whip unnecessarily, after his chance of winning or being placed had clearly gone. Having considered his previous record in this regard, the Stewards suspended him for one race day.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee