Winner, Westerner Point (Phillip Enright, left) jumps the last with He Is Top Class (Paul Townend)© Photo Healy Racing
Disqualified from first place at this venue on August 6th, He Is Top Class beaten a few times after going odds-on 'in the run' at this stage, suffered further misfortune when short-headed by Westerner Point in the St Angela's College Sligo Beginners Chase.
Two to one favourite He Is Top Class hit 1.01 on the exchanges, and that looked to be justifiable, after he'd jumped on from the front-runner, Westerner Point, at the last.
That seemed to be that, but He Is Top Class had no extra to give close home, and he was headed on the line by the rallying Westerner Point, the mount of Phillip Enright.
Enright was gaining a deserved win, having finished runner-up earlier on both Vicangelome and Tooreen
Former 'pointer' Westerner Point was getting off the mark at the first time of asking over racecourse fences, and his trainer Eoghan O'Grady said: "I was very worried at the last but he stayed on really well and Phillip gave him a great ride. We'll probably wait for softer ground as he likes a good cut in it."
The Stewards interviewed P.T. Enright, rider of Westerner Point, concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned.
Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that P.T. Enright was in breach of R10(3)(f) by using his whip with excessive force and R10(4) by failing to give his mount time to respond to the whip and consequently cautioned him having taken his clean previous record into consideration.
(AM & EM)
