Rocky Blue and Gary Halpin account for Miraculum and Kevin Manning© Photo Healy Racing
There was a dramatic conclusion to proceedings at Navan as two of the big players departed the scene turning into the back straight in the Sequence Events Handicap. At the end of the mile six event it was Rocky Blue that emerged on top.
Willie Mullins' hot favourite Eight And Bob stumbled badly leaving the stalls but worse was to follow.
Bidding for a treble with Aidan O'Brien, Seamie Heffernan was leading the field on Conquest when that one slipped and unseated him on the bend entering the back.
Colin Keane had Eight And Bob held up towards the back and a similar fate befell him.
Up front then in the closing couple of furlongs, Tom Mullins' Rocky Blue emerged moving strongly under Gary Halpin and in the end he beat Miraculum by eight lengths.
"All the money was for Willie's but I still really fancied this fella," said Tom Mullins.
"He had come on a lot from Sligo. When Willie's came down I said 'if we don't win now I'm in trouble!'
"I told the owner 'I really don't fancy Willie's and I think we'll beat him.' He went and had a few pounds on him.
"I was confident although we got there too soon. He'll more than likely go hurdling now.
"He's a grand little horse and he's got it all together now."
The Stewards requested a report from C.T. Keane, rider of Eight and Bob and J.A. Heffernan, rider of Conquest, regarding the fact that they were unseated from their mounts turning into the back straight.
Both riders reported that their mounts slipped independently causing them to be unseated.
Having considered the evidence and viewed a recording of the race, the Stewards noted the explanations offered and took no further action.
C.D. Hayes, rider of Comehere Hi trained by J.A. Nash, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount met with interference from fallers.
(GC & EM)
