Kildare based trainer John Quinn was in hot water with the stewards at Gowran Park last night after a prolonged running and riding inquiry into both of his runners, Evolution Baby and Insignificance, after the first division of the Bagenalstown EBF Maiden won by Dermot Weld's Refuse To Bend.
Following the investigation Quinn was fined E1,000 for using the racecourse as a training ground and both of his horses were banned for 42 days. Sean Keating, who partnered Evolution Baby to trail in last of thirteen, was banned for ten racedays for insufficient effort while Donal Manning, who finished tenth aboard the stable companion, was suspended for 7 racedays for the same offence.
Maynooth permit holder John Geoghegan, who has just two horses in training, saddled Desert Hill to follow up on his recent Naas success despite a 9lb hike. John Murtagh, none the worse for a tumble after the 5f pole from Cass's No Problem in the nursery, produced the 5/1 chance with a perfectly timed challenge to head long-time leader Ilios well inside the final furlong.
'This horse has had back problems, shoulder problems, every problem you can think about,' said Geoghegan 'but he's improving all the time. We might find a similar race at Tralee and he's entitled to run in the Irish Cambridgeshire after that.'
Top-weight Sheer Dane justified good support in the ring when slamming her rivals under an ultra confident ride from crack teenage sensation Davy Condon. Backed from 6/1 to 7/2, Michael Grassick's Danehill filly, who is in foal to Namid, will run again at either upcoming Leopardstown or Roscommon under a mandatory 5lb penalty.
Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning completed a double during the evening sparked off with Atomic Cat in the nursery before Last Theatre also defied top-weight later in the twelve furlong handicap.
