Paddy Flood - 'I did agree with Danny getting a slap on the wrist. I am not sure €3,000 was justified'

Danny Mullins was given a fine of €3,000 for his conduct before the Galway Hurdle last week. In the parade ring, Mullins instructed his groom to turn the horse around and head back towards the gate so he could get down to the start quicker, rather than doing an extra lap of the ring as he intended to get down to the start and secure his position early.

The stewards’ report alluded to the danger of this, given the crowds in the parade ring while the horse was being walked in close proximity to them. Mullins has not stated whether he would appeal the fine.

Safety concerns but questions about the size of the fine

Paddy Flood agreed with the stewards’ decision on the latest episode of the Irish Angle but thought the fine was too high: “I have to commend the stewards here, because jockeys seem to have got into the habit of rushing out of the weighing room and into the parade ring, getting on their horses and trying to get out first so they can secure a good spot at the start.

“I cannot remember that ever happening when I was riding. You always took your horse down nice and quietly, and everyone generally knew what everyone else was going to do.

“If you had done your homework, you knew where the horses were likely to line up and how the start would unfold.

"I did agree with Danny getting a slap on the wrist. I am just not sure €3,000 was justified."

Early exits can create chaos before races

“Basically, what he did was get his groom to turn the horse around and get out of the gate as quickly as possible to reach the start and secure a position. If you do that in a parade ring, which is always full of people, there is a real safety issue.

“There are often older people in the parade ring as well, and all it takes is one horse to act up and double-barrel. The worst could happen - a kick to the head, the chest, or something similar.

“They seem to have got into this habit. I had never really heard of it before, but I was watching it all week. I think Danny even did it on his mother’s horse. He was being interviewed by Brian Gleeson, and I am not even sure the bell had gone when he jumped on the horse and headed straight out to the start. He actually missed the start and ended up going last.

“It is a bit annoying because if one person does that, everybody else has to react.

“If he is going out early to get a position, then everyone starts thinking they need to get out early as well. Suddenly the whole field is trying to leave early, and you are creating carnage before the race even begins.

Watch the Irish Angle in full