A plan comes together for Grageen Grageen was second in the Dennison JCB Maiden Hunters Steeplechase at Downpatrick last year and went one better in this year's renewal. The trip up from Co Carlow proved fruitful as Pa King rode him to lead entering the straight and the pair kept on well to see it out by two and a-half lengths at 3/1. Gambled-on Western Wishes (40/1 - 14/1) took the runner-up berth. Willie Murphy said: "We said we would aim for this year. "He's a good-ground horse, he'd a lovely run over the banks in Punchestown. We have been waiting for this. "Solid form, he's only a couple of lengths off Sean Doyle's good horse (Willitgoahead) on a couple of occasions, so it wasn't a fluke. "We were coming here reasonably optimistic, I'm more of a pessimist than an optimist unfortunately! "He went and got the job done and that's the main thing. "We will probably sit quiet for three or four weeks." The Raceday Stewards interviewed Mr P.A. King, rider of Grageen, concerning his use of the whip in the closing stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who accepted he was in breach of the Whip Regulation and apologised for his actions. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that Mr P.A. King was in breach of R.10.3(g)(frequency) and having considered his clean record in this regard, they suspended him for two racedays.
