Going reports have become something of a party conversation piece among the training fraternity these days and last Saturday on the opening day of the Listowel fixture the subject raised its ugly head again.
'The going was described as good to yielding overnight but today it's closer to firm,' said trainer Tom Hogan, who added, 'It's a disgrace. We have to be absolutely professional in our conduct. We get fined for a wrong colour cap and things like that but it's about time somebody is brought to task over these inaccurate ground descriptions. '
A delegation of trainers, led by recently appointed Chief Executive Officer Jim Kavanagh, met with the stewards to express their dissatisfaction with the going description that appeared at declaration time on Friday morning compared to the good to firm ground that greeted them on their arrival at the Kerry track before racing.
Former trainer Kavanagh, speaking on behalf of the Irish Trainers Association, informed the stewards that his members had been informed in recent days that the going was good to yielding but to their annoyance and cost it was described as good to firm on the day with no prior warning.
Mr Brendan Daly, Manager of Listowel, informed the officials that his final inspection and report at 7.45am on Friday was good to yielding. On Wednesday the ground was also described as good to yielding when the track was examined by the Turf Club Inspector of Courses, Barry Langan.
Clerk Of The Course Peter McGouran, like everyone else, found the going good to firm and the matter was referred to the Turf Club for further investigation.
For Paul Carberry the ground description made little difference as the reigning champion brought his season al tally in the plate to 100 when he partnered Young Whack, trained by his boss Noel Meade, to victory over Bassett Tiger in the Feale Handicap Chase.
Later the Meathman completed a 35/1 double when he teamed up with first reserve Maverick Dancer to score for Michael Hourigan in the 2m handicap hurdle.
Earlier, front-running tactics certainly paid off in the opening two races with Pat Smullen making virtually all aboard Dermot Weld's 7/2 chance Hymn Of Love to come home the comfortable three length winner of the first division of the EBF Maiden.
'She quickened up well from the turn in front and did it well and hopefully she'll come on again from that,' said Smullen, who was later out of luck on odds-on Maid To Order which finished only seventh behind runaway front-running Rain Lily.
Jim 'Slim' O'Neill, assistant to John Oxx, said, of the Sheikh Mohammed winner, 'After the first race we decided to try and make the running as the track was riding fast and suited that and thankfully it worked. We have no fancy plans for her and will find a handicap between a mile to a mile-and-a-quarter.'
After Mark Roper's Spy Game finished fast under Seamus Heffernan to turnover Southern Style in the auction maiden, Jim Gorman completed a four-timer for Curragh-based trainers when he sent out Bought Direct to land the spoils in the one mile handicap.
