Pittoni pulls up lame after Leopardstown win

The Charles Byrnes trained Pittoni (6/5f) landed the Ballsbridge Hurdle at Leopardstown but unfortunately was dismounted by his rider Barry Geraghty after passing the winning line, having gone lame.

The son of Peintre Celebre had earlier made most of the running and responded gamely to Geraghty's urgings to go clear entering the straight. At the line, Pittoni had two lengths to spare over Won In The Dark but the post-race script didn't go to plan.

Initial fears that the gelding had broken down badly were subsequently allayed by his owner Paddy Wilmott who reported “Charles (Byrnes) said he thinks Pittoni might have hit a nerve and we'll get him checked him out in the morning to see for sure if there is damage done.”