Mullins at treble with Risk Belle in stewards' room Risk Belle was awarded the Grade A Rybo Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse by the stewards after suffering interference from Monbeg Park. This €100,000 race over an extended two miles boiled down to 7/2 favourite Risk Belle and Monbeg Park (8/1) at the last where the latter was less than fluent. He leant in on the mare in the closing stages and bumped her twice before scoring by half a length. After a lengthy review, the placings of the winner and the runner-up were reversed. Horantzau D'airy (16/1) was five lengths adrift of the pair in third with Magnor Glory (22/1) completing the places in fourth. Mark Walsh rode a double on his first day back since fracturing ribs at the Cheltenham Festival and said: “She got good experience in Cheltenham and you would have called her a winner jumping the last and just got run out of it up the hill. She had a lovely light weight today. “She got a good run through the race and it all went to plan bar the interference after the last. Hopefully she can keep improving.” JP McManus' racing manager Frank Berry added: “She got a couple of bumps. It’s never a nice way to win and also a horrible way to lose, but she ran a blinder. “She got a bad fall in Leopardstown and was a bit unlucky in the Boodles so it’s nice for her to get that. She jumped great today and, if she comes out of this well, there is every chance she will go on to Punchestown.” Risk Belle made it trebles for Willie Mullins and McManus on the card. The Raceday Stewards enquired into possible interference between the final hurdle and the winning post involving Monbeg Park, ridden by Mr B. Lawless, placed first and Risk Belle (FR), ridden by M.P. Walsh, placed second, where it appeared that interference may have occurred. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. In his evidence, M.P. Walsh stated that his mount was bumped and impeded on two occasions on the run to the finish which prohibited him from winning. Mr. B. Lawless stated that his mount had jumped right at the final hurdle and had edged right from there despite his whip being in his right hand. In his opinion he felt that the initial bump was caused by Risk Belle (Fr) coming out resulting in his own mount receiving pressure causing him to lean inwards. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards were of the opinion that Monbeg Park had caused interference to Risk Belle (Fr) and as a result of this interference had improved it’s finishing position. As a consequence, the Raceday Stewards reversed the placings of the first and second placed horses and amended the result to read as follows: Amended Result: First: Risk Belle (Fr) Second: Monbeg Park Third: Horantzau D'airy (Fr) Fourth: Magnor Glory Fifth: Tax For Max (GER) and Sixth: Captains Nephew. Furthermore, the Raceday Stewards were of the opinion that Mr B. Lawless was in breach of Rule 214 in that he had ridden carelessly. Having considered his record in this regard they suspended him for three racedays. Mr Joe Collins, Raceday Steward, recused himself from this enquiry. Additional reporting by Alan Magee
