There was plenty of drama in the opening Heineken Phil Sweeney Memorial Chase at Thurles yesterday where Alcapone was disqualified for taking the wrong course after a facile win.
The incident occurred after the second fence where Alcapone went the wrong side of a marker doll onto the hurdle track, with the remaining five runners following the 4/5 chance. However while Casey's mount continued on for an unchallenged 'victory', the others turned back to complete the proper course. Delphi Lodge finished a distance adrift, with Fleur Du Chenet the same margin back in third.
The stewards called an enquiry immediately after the race, and severely cautioned all the riders to familiarise themselves with the course. Casey was given a two day suspension (January 13 &14) for not pulling up his mount after taking the wrong course, and will miss the Pierse Hurdle (formerly The Ladbroke) meeting at Leopardstown. The Clerk Of The Course, Peter McGouran, made a point of explaining to each individual rider before the race to keep to the outside all the way around the chase course.
Pat Martin completed the notable feat of saddling a winner at all 27 Irish racecourses when Environment took the Heineken W.T. O'Grady Memorial Hurdle in ultra game fashion. Shane McCann's mount appeared beaten when headed by 1/2 favourite Hill Port after the last but rallied again for a neck victory.
'He is a really tough horse, and loves that heavy ground. The owner (Eddie Keogh) would love to go for the Triumph Hurdle,' said Martin, who has held a licence for 15 years. Cashmans quote the winner at 50/1 for Cheltenham.
Joyful River, successful at Tramore on Monday, followed up under a 4lb penalty in the three mile Thurles Handicap Chase. The six-year-old mare, ridden by Paul Hourigan for his father Michael, just held off the persistent challenge of Knocknagree by a short-head. The start of this race was delayed by 25 minutes after a racegoer collapsed and died, and one of the two ambulances at the track took him to the local mortuary.
