May 28th not Phillip Byrnes' favourite day of the year A year to the day since he was unseated from Redwood Queen at the last in a hugely controversial incident at Wexford, jockey Phillip Byrnes again made the news for the wrong reasons as the well-backed 11/8 favourite Marian Avenue was disqualified and placed last having been first past the post in the second division of Limerick's Irish Wire Products Ltd. Handicap Hurdle. Marian Avenue was in front in the two and a-half mile contest when edging, or being manoeuvred, left on the approach to the second-last, hampering Qaasid and causing Friar Hogan, widest of the three horses, to be carried out. Marian Avenue was soon clear as Qaasid gave chase in second and, although the latter closed on the run-in, there was still a length and a-half between them at the line. There was little doubt that there would be an amended result, and Qaasid (11/1), owned by the Four Fools & A Fast Horse Syndicate, was awarded the race with Marian Avenue disqualified and placed last. Hobs Angel, originally third and 10 lengths behind Qaasid, was promoted to second with Granlahan getting third. Winning trainer John 'Shark' Hanlon said "It was unlucky on Philip Byrnes as his horse went for the wing (of the second-last hurdle) and the two boys on his outside lost out. My horse lost his two hind shoes and that, without a doubt, happened at the second-last. "This horse deserved to win as he was unlucky at Clonmel the last day when he put his foot in a hole and slipped up. He fractured ribs and everything in that fall, so today is his first day back. "I'm tired talking about watering of tracks, but there is a difference in the ground today and that is why almost everyone is going wide. "It is the owners' first winner with me so I'm delighted, as we had a few quid on him in Clonmel. I go over to London once in a while to meet the syndicate and when we meet for a pint, it usually takes three days!" Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
