See also » Walhaan refuses to yield in Foxrock
It didn't go right for him in Navan the last day, but Eoin gave him a no-nonsense ride today, he was very good on him. We felt he had improved at home and we had this race pinpointed after Navan. A flat track on nice ground is really his thing. In fairness, he was going away at the line, from the second, and he's improving away. He's really starting to get the hang of hurdling now. We think there is a nice race on the Flat in him as well. We might mix and match or we might just stay hurdling and then go to the Flat later in the season. It's important he won for the lads (Ask Dot Syndicate) as they are good supporters of the yard, it's lovely to have a winner for them. Ciaran Murphy, trainer

P. Townend, rider of Horantzau D'airy (FR), trained by W.P. Mullins, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was short of room after turning into the straight

D.N. Russell, rider of I Am Fortunata, trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount appeared to have a small amount of blood in a nostril post race

Sam Ewing, rider of Star Harbour, trained by Adrian McGuinness, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount raced keen in the early part of this race

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer reported to the Raceday Stewards that I Am Fortunata trained by Gordon Elliott was noted to have blood at both nostrils post race

The Raceday Stewards enquired into an incident on the run to the final hurdle involving Horantzau D'airy (FR), ridden by P. Townend, placed second, I Am Fortunata, ridden by D.N. Russell, placed fourth, and Quirke's Gate (GB), ridden by M.J.M O'Sullivan, placed fifth, where it appeared that Quirke's Gate (GB) met with interference when racing between horses. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. In his evidence, M.J.M. O'Sullivan stated that he received pressure from I Am Fortunata on his outside on the approach to the final hurdle at the same time as Horantzau D'airy (Fr) was making an outward manoeuvre from the running rail to deliver his challenge. He added that his mount was unable to hold his position at that time. P. Townend stated that he had plenty of room when manoeuvering out to make his challenge as Quirke's Gate (GB) was coming back. He added that he got a bump from Quirke's Gate (GB) when in the gap. D.N. Russell stated that he had been pushed out off the final bend from being one horse off the rails to being three horses off the rails and he rode to keep his racing line. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards found D.N. Russell was in breach of Rule 214 in that he had ridden carelessly. Having considered his record in this regard, the Raceday Stewards suspended D.N. Russell for three racedays.

A hurdle for five years old and upwards, maidens at starting
Weights - 11st 12lbs Mares allowed 7lbs