Top Othe Ra (Finny Maguire) battles off Nessun Dorma (Patrick Mullins)© Photo Healy Racing
The expectation was that we'd have a Mullins winner of the concluding Leopardstown Members (Q.R.) Maiden. We did as Tom's Top Othe Ra (10/1) beat his brother Willie's Nessun Dorma (6/4 favourite) in the Foxrock finale.
It looked like a matter of when and not if Patrick Mullins' sweet-travelling mount Nessun Dorma would stamp his authority on the mile seven heat.
Unfortunately for favourite backers that Canford Cliffs gelding found Top Othe Ra too doughty an opponent and Finny Maguire's partner fought like a tiger to triumph by half a length. Great Trango was two lengths back in third whilst well-backed Awayinthewest (9/4 from 3s on track, and much bigger earlier) was fourth. Ard Na Carraig fourth here in 2016, was fifth this time around.
"He's a right horse. He's 133 over hurdles and the main objective is the Galway Hurdle," said Tom Mullins.
"134 would get him in for sure, I think, but 133 he'd be in at the bottom. Whether I run him over hurdles between now and then, I don't know. We might run in another Flat handicap.
"He stuck at it well. He pulled up the day he won his maiden hurdle at Ballinrobe and I said to Finny going out 'don't hit the front too soon'. That plan went out the window!"
The Stewards interviewed S. Donohoe, trainer, concerning the failure to nominate a rider before the designated time for Fontainbleau in this race.
Evidence was heard from the trainer who stated that he had intended to nominate Mr. H.D. Dunne for this race but that the rider had advised him at the last moment that he was in fact suspended for today's meeting.
At that late stage it was too late to make other arrangements and time ran out to nominate another rider.
Having considered the evidence, the Stewards allowed the nomination of Mr. S. Cavanagh at this stage and imposed a fine of €130 on the trainer for a breach of Rule 195 and Reg. 3.
The Stewards interviewed Mr. S. Cavanagh, rider of Fontainbleau, 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 found the rider in breach of Reg. 10. 3.(g) by using his whip with his arm above shoulder height and having taken his record into account cautioned him.
(GC & EM)
