Dundeedy Lad sharpened up by cheek-pieces

Thankfully the three horses and riders that came down on the flat early in the Carrick-On-Suir Handicap Hurdle seemed relatively okay afterwards as Dundeedy Lad landed the spoils in race five at Clonmel. Redwood Boy slipped up leaving the back straight for the first time in the extended two and a half miler, and Brideview Weir and Tsarina Sophia were left with nowhere to go and were taken out in the same incident.

Meanwhile Dundeedy Lad (14/1 into 11/1) travelled best in first-time cheek-pieces, and once given the office by Philip Enright stayed on well on the run-in to see off Desertmore Dreamer by two and a quarter lengths.

Said winning trainer Robert Tyner afterwards: "We were disgusted with him the last day when we were expecting him to run nicely and Philip (Enright) thought to put cheek-pieces on him and it worked. He was right and he travelled and jumped and while the loose horse didn't help him, he did it well.

"He was quite keen and travelled very strongly through the race and I was concerned about that but he gave some display of jumping."

It was later reported that Brideview Weir's jockey Richard Condon either fractured or dislocated a shoulder and he was taken to hospital for examination.

Under the provisions of Rule 90 (iv), the Stewards allowed Its Only A Dream trained by Charles O'Brien, to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the horse was correctly vaccinated in accordance with Rule 91.

L.P. Gilligan, rider of Courtin Bb trained by Patrick J. Duffy, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never travelled.

The Stewards requested a report from Robert Tyner, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Dundeedy Lad (FR), placed first, as compared with its recent form.

The trainer reported that the first time application of cheek pieces appeared to help his charge concentrate and this may have brought about the apparent improvement in form.

Having considered the evidence, the Stewards noted the explanation offered.

The Stewards enquired into the falls on the flat of Redwood Boy, ridden by Rachael Blackmore, Tsarina Sophia, ridden by B. Hayes and Brideview Weir, ridden by R.J. Condon, turning out of the back straight.

Rachael Blackmore reported that her mount appeared to fall independently bringing down both Tsarina Sophia and Brideview Weir.

Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards took no further action.

(TW & EM)