Pat Flynn has his string in good form at present, and the Carrick-On-Suir handler was again on the mark at Gowran Park yesterday evening when Thepointaboutitis took the Thomastown Handicap under Danny Grant.
Flynn's charge, shouldering a 5lb penalty for an easy win at Tipperary last Thursday, led early in the straight to beat Copper Express by three quarters of a length.
However the result was in doubt for some time after a protracted stewards enquiry involving the winner and all the placed horses. The stewards looked into at least two incidents inside the final quarter mile but, having continued the enquiry after the following race, the placings remained unaltered. Grant was found quilty of careless riding, and given a two day suspension.
Cashel Palace, the only one of Aidan O'Brien's four juvenile runners not to have won this season, put the record straight in the May EBF Maiden. The Lure colt, narrowly beaten at Cork last week, held the renewed challenge of Bressbee by a neck.
Pat Smullen is one ahead of Mick Kinane in the championship title race after Pine Dance gained a workmanlike victory in the Ormonde Maiden. Smullen, now on the 17 winner mark, sent the Dermot Weld-trained colt to the front two furlongs but just held uneasy favourite Ambry by a head.
Copernicus provided leading lady point-to-point rider Liz Doyle with her fourth win under rules when driven out to beat Dunback by four lengths in the Gowran Park Ladies Handicap. The well-backed 5/4 favourite 'prefers some cut in the ground, and may run again at Clonmel on Sunday' according to trainer Pat Hughes.
Green Light has a date at the Doncaster Sales next week after heading It's Sharing virtually on the line in the Norevale Handicap Hurdle. 'He may go to Doncaster, and if not will go chasing in the next few weeks,' said successful trainer Tony Mullins.
