Kilbeggan surprise highlighted by Ranger

The fancied ones failed to come up to expectations in the concluding September 8th Celebration Race Meeting INH Flat Race at Kilbeggan. Mountain Ranger (16/1) led home a second and third pair that went off at odds of 33/1 and 50/1 respectively.

Trained by Sean Byrne and ridden by his son and namesake, Mountain Ranger got home by three parts of a length and a head from Ballikanan and Incredible Black Space was at a premium in the latter stages and there was just three parts of a length back to Battle Hard in fourth.

"He's a nice horse. He's only coming into himself as he's a big horse and has taken a bit of time," said Byrne of the five-year-old also owned and bred by the Maganey, Athy-based family.

"We might try another bumper with him and then see after that. He'll make a right hurdler and chaser as he has the size.

"He stayed well and did it the hard way, coming around the outside. When they came to him he went on again."

The Stewards interviewed Mr J.C. Barry, rider of Ballikanan (FR), concerning his use of the whip in the latter 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 Mr J.C. Barry was in breach of R10(3)(f) by using his whip with excessive force and frequency and R10(4) by failing to give his mount time to respond and therefore suspended him for 2 racedays having taken his previous record into consideration. .

(GC & EM)