Byrnes happy to have Wonder Laish back on track Charles Byrnes has his horses in good form and there was another winner for the Limerick handler when Wonder Laish triumphed in the Broderick Plumbing & Heating (Q.R.) Race at Killarney. Byrnes’ son Philip did the steering, and the well-backed 6/4 second favourite led until joined seven furlongs out. The Halling gelding led again narrowly four furlongs out, and he was ridden over two furlongs out. Asserting from over a furlong out Wonder Laish kept on well in the final furlong to defeat odds-on favourite Mt Leinster by two lengths. "It is great to get him back as we fancied him in Galway but he left his hind legs in the first and got blocked jumping the second. He (Robbie Power) did the right thing then by easing up,” said Byrnes senior. "Philip said he was very comfortable turning in and on paper he was by far the best horse in the race and was rated 92. "He will probably run in the Listowel Hurdle next and wouldn't want the ground any worse than that." The Stewards considered a request from Megan Donovan, Authorised Representative for Denis Gerard Hogan, trainer of Is She Diesel (GB), to replace Mr. H.C. Swan with Mr. F. Maguire in this race. Evidence was heard from the trainer's representative who stated that Mr. Swan had not completed the pre meeting health screening and they were requesting Mr. Maguire to replace him. Having considered the evidence, the Stewards declined the request under Regulation 3 due to the material difference in the experience of the two riders. Subsequent to this request, the Stewards considered a second request of Mr. A. O'Sullivan to replace Mr. H.C. Swan, which the Stewards approved. (TW & EM)
