Wolverhampton Result

THE GET RACEDAY READY HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 6) Permission was given for Thapa VC (IRE) to be mounted in the chute.

Fistral Beach (IRE), trained by John Mackie spread a plate on the way to post.

As the trainer had not indicated at declaration stage that the mare should be withdrawn in the event of losing a shoe on the way to post, Fistral Beach (IRE) ran without its right-fore shoe.

Following the race, Kaiya Fraser reported that Reputation (IRE), placed third, was restless in the stalls.

Edward Greatrex reported that passing the 1/2 furlong marker he took a precautionary check when weakening on Punchbowl Flyer (IRE), unplaced, in anticipation of suffering interference which did not fully materialise.

Oisin Murphy reported that Thapa VC (IRE), placed fourth, was denied a clear run for some distance from approaching 2 furlongs out until inside the final furlong.

The Stewards interviewed Murphy regarding aspects of his riding in the home straight and specifically asked for an explanation firstly surrounding his perceived lack of urgency to commit for a run, which briefly presented itself between ROSEMARY’S ROSE (IRE), placed second, and Lessay (IRE), unplaced, approximately 1 furlong out.

Murphy indicated to the Stewards that whilst he acknowledged a clear run was momentarily available between these two runners, due primarily to ROSEMARY’S ROSE (IRE) lugging right-handed, in his experience Tom Marquand is a rider who always corrects his mounts when they are drifting off a true line and in addition to this he could see David Nolan angling Lessay (IRE) gradually right-handed from the inside, which left him of the opinion that this gap would very quickly close, and given his positioning in relation to these two horses, he did not consider it was a high percentage play to attempt taking that gap.

Murphy added that several strides later, predictably this run had closed in front of him which again left Thapa VC (IRE) short of daylight.

Murphy was further asked to explain his slightly less vigorous riding from approaching the half furlong marker, where after having again been denied clear running on Thapa VC (IRE), a tight run had appeared to present itself between Fistral Beach (IRE), unplaced, and ROSEMARY’S ROSE (IRE).

Murphy told the Stewards that whilst he was attempting to improve into this gap, he was in very restricted room and to such an extent that he was unable to use the whip in his right-hand, due to the close proximity of Jack Doughty on Fistral Beach (IRE) to his outside and he was concerned that if he bumped Fistral Beach (IRE), Doughty would be forced onto the heels of Reputation (IRE), placed third, which had been sweeping home down the outside but also edging left-handed in the process and closing down the space.

Murphy finalised by saying that although Thapa VC (IRE) had very little luck in running, the gelding had not necessarily quickened up in the expected manner when he was able to place him under pressure.

His explanations were noted.