Sapphire Lady puts "off day" well behind her The market told you all you needed to know prior to the Casey Tarmacadam Mares Hurdle at Wexford with odds-on favourite Sapphire Lady gaining a not extended seven and a half length win under Paul Townend. Backed from 9/10 into 4/6, the Willie Mullins runner made a lot of the running to eventually beat Fiveaftermidnight (9/2 into 3/1) The winner's stable companion, Chambord Dy Lys (9/4 out to 7/2) could do no better than third, a further six and a half lengths behind. "I suppose she just had an off day at Limerick, but that was more like it today," commented Townend in the aftermath. The Stewards interviewed Mr. Anthony Elliott, authorised representative for P.J. Rothwell, trainer of Fiveaftermidnight, regarding the late arrival of the horse into the Parade Ring. Evidence was heard from the trainer's representative who stated the circumstances surrounding the late arrival and apologised for this. Having considered the evidence, the Stewards found Mr. Rothwell in breach of Rule 32(ii) by failing to have his charge in the parade ring a reasonable time before the signal to mount was given. Having taken his previous record into consideration, the Stewards fined Mr. Rothwell €130. Furthermore, the Stewards reminded him of his future responsibilities in this regard. (DM & EM)
