Highstreetfashion (Patrick O'Brien, left) leads Walking The Walk and Sam Ewing over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Highstreetfashion took his score on the racecourse proper to two from twenty four, supplementing a Punchestown victory from 27 days back, in the Metcollect Handicap Chase at Down Royal.
The result stood after a steward’s enquiry, the neck victory being confirmed as 7Ib claimer Patrick O’Brien got another winning turn from Patrick Rooney’s lightly-weighted seven-year-old.
Rooney said afterwards: "He's a game sort and that was over half a mile shorter than he wants.
"We were waiting a long time for him to grow into himself!
We saw a big change in his jumping since we had the work done on his back before his last win. He jumped straight the last day and today again. Jumping is the name of the game."
After Highstreetfashion's wandering on the run-in, runner-up Walking The Walk was impeded, but the result stood.
C. Brassil, rider of Magic Sea trained by Sarah Dawson, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount slipped into the first fence and pulled up.
Sam Ewing, rider of Walking The Walk trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was interfered with twice after the last fence.
G. Brouder, rider of Glenmalure Lodge trained by P.J. Rothwell, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount burst a blood vessel and was pulled up.
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Glenmalure Lodge, trained by P.J. Rothwell, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to have blood at the nostrils post race.
Owing to damage to fence #2 (second last fence), the Raceday Stewards granted permission for this fence to be omitted from this race.
The Raceday Stewards enquired into possible interference between the last fence and the winning post involving Walking The Walk, ridden by Sam Ewing, placed second, and Highstreetfashion, ridden by P.M. O'Brien, placed first, where it appeared that contact was made. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. In his evidence, Sam Ewing stated that his mount had headed Highstreetfashion when receiving a bump. He added that he put down his whip, got his mount balanced but received a second bump soon after. P.M. O'Brien stated that his mount was wandering and then drifted left for which he pulled the whip through into his other hand and straightened him up. He added that in his opinion his mount took the lead in the last fifty yards of this race. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards made no alteration to the Judge’s placings and took no further action.
(MG & EM)
