Tony Martin, who saddled Davids Lad to win the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse earlier this month, landed himself in hot water with the Gowran Park stewards last evening.
Martin partnered 10/1 shot Corrib Surpreme into third place behind Stashedaway in the concluding bumper but the ride didn't impress the local officials who fined the Grand National winning trainer #1,000 for not allowing the horse to run on his merits.
The horse, running for the second time, was banned for 42 days and Martin was also hit with a 28 raceday ban.
'The horse has had problems with his legs and I was looking after him a bit, I suppose. I probably should have been a bit stronger close home but I was looking after his interests,' said Martin afterwards.
Elsewhere, Mick Kinane completed an opening race double but it was the manner and ease of his second success aboard David Hanley's filly Golden Apples that had the bookmakers running for cover.
Supported from 6/4 to even money, the warm favourite turned into the straight alongside market rival Alassio but once Kinane asked his mount to quicken she drew steadily clear from the two furlong pole to score in good style eased down by eight lengths.
'She's a big strong filly and looks like she'll keep improving. I'm hoping she'll stay a mile-and-a-half and she looks like she'll handle good ground,' said David Hanley, of his runaway filly owned by his wife Anne.
Kevin Manning, who partnered the runner-up, had better luck later when he scored on light-weight Carlesimo for his boss Jim Bolger. Manning did well when his mount ducked to the left inside the furlong pole but quickly got him back on an even keel to defeat Turtle Dancer by a length.
Aidan O'Brien's Landseer, fourth in a blanket finish on the first day of the current campaign at Leopardstown, initiated the Kinane brace when justifying favouritism in the opening seven furlong maiden.
Grangecon amateur Rosemary Rouse recorded her first success under rules when landing the Ladies race on Monty's Fancy for her neighbour Willie Bourke but in contrast the race proved costly for Shona McDonogh. After finishing 13th on Marabeesh, she was deemed to have used her whip excessively and was banned for four days.
Kilcash Castle, a gallant runner-up to Ned Kelly at Fairyhouse last time, provided Aidan O'Brien with a mixed double when making virtually all the running under Paul Carberry in the Gowran Park Golf & Leisure Novice Hurdle.
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