Treble for Keane as Howd'yadoit leaves Lyons 'gobsmacked' Ger Lyons was left 'gobsmacked' after Howd'yadoit claimed the feature Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes, completing a treble for Colin Keane. Placed on his first three starts, the Sean Jones-owned bay made the breakthrough at Down Royal last month and was sent off a 13/2 chance today. Drawn wide in stall 23, the 87-rated victor tracked the leaders and was ridden to challenge between horses with over a furlong to go. Surging to the front inside the final 100 yards, he ultimately came home three-quarters of a length to the good. There was just a nose between Unbreakable Duke (22/1) and Summer Is Tomorrow (11/1) in second and third, with their positions later reversed after interference occurred. Returned the 6/4 favourite, Jel Pepper had every chance from the furlong pole but ultimately faded in the closing stages and finished fourth. "I'm gobsmacked as I didn't think he'd be good enough," Lyons, who also won this race with Keane in 2021, reflected. "What an honest horse, he's been doing it well. We wanted to win a maiden en-route to winning a nursery, but he hit him with a mark that I thought was ridiculous for what I felt was a poor maiden. "We came here because it was a good pot, and I said any bit of the prizemoney is grand. Never in my wildest dreams did I think he'd win. "I'm delighted as Sean's horses are now bought for and named by his sons Eddie and James to keep them interested and they are here today. They are the next generation so it's great. "Sean has been with me from day one and it couldn't happen to a nicer guy." Keane was earlier successful on Bonus Time in the opener and Noli Timere in the sixth. STEWARDS REPORTS * D. McMonagle, rider of Summer Is Tomorrow, trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was carried left in the last furlong. * The Raceday Stewards enquired into possible interference in the closing stages of this race involving Summer Is Tomorrow, ridden by D. McMonagle, placed third, Jel Pepper, ridden by H. Crouch, placed fourth, and Unbreakable Duke, ridden by K.J. Leonard, placed second, where it appeared that interference may have occurred. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. D. McMonagle stated that he was carried off his racing line which prevented him from challenging the winner and certainly cost him second. H. Crouch stated that he suffered intimidation but it did not cost him a place. K. J. Leonard stated that his mount drifted left and accepted there was intimidation but added that there was no contact and he felt there was no interference. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards were of the opinion that Unbreakable Duke had caused interference to Summer Is Tomorrow and as a result of this interference had improved its finishing position. As a consequence, the Raceday Stewards reversed the placings of the second and third placed horses and amended the result to read as follows: Amended Result: First-Howd'yadoit Second-Summer Is Tomorrow Third-Unbreakable Duke Fourth-Jel Pepper Fifth-Front Line Fury Sixth-Green Soul Seventh-Which Wolf Wins Eigth-There's A Chance Ninth-Amiata Tenth-Dancing Saxon Furthermore, the Raceday Stewards were of the opinion that K. J. Leonard was in breach of Rule 214 in that he had ridden carelessly, and having considered his record in this regard (second offence) they suspended K. J. Leonard for four racedays. * K.J. Leonard, rider of Unbreakable Duke, trained by Diego Dias, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount leaned left in the last two hundred and fifty yards. Additional reporting by Alan Magee
