Tommy Treacy is set to miss the Hennessy Gold Cup ride on Danoli after being hit with a controversial, 21-day ban by the stewards yesterday. Riding the 2 to 5 favourite Unarmed in the Navan Novice Hurdle, Treacy was beaten a head by Northern Galaxy after waiting until well after the last flight to deliver his challenge.
The rider was barracked by a section of the crowd, some of whom sarcastically shouted "well done Treacy" as he returned to the parade ring. The stewards decided Treacy had ridden an "injudicious" race and suspended him for three weeks. Treacy declared the verdict "disgusting". He immediately said he would appeal the penalty, a move that Unarmed's trainer, Paddy Mullins, said he would back.
"It's a savage decision," Mullins said. "I don't think he is guilty of anything except possibly an error of judgement. But this always happens when the public kick up a row. They (the stewards) always throw someone to the lions."
In the circumstances, Treacy appeared unlucky to get 21 days. Unarmed had flattered to deceive when beaten by His Song over two miles at Leopardstown at Christmas and was held up by Treacy over yesterday's quarter-mile further.
As Northern Galaxy and Conor O'Dwyer led down the straight, Treacy was motionless on Unarmed until after the last. Trying to preserve Unarmed's stamina, Treacy waited until as late as possible to deliver his challenge, but Northern Galaxy appeared to be holding Unarmed in the final strides.
Treacy told the stewards Unarmed couldn't quicken on the heavy ground, found nothing off the bridle and that the winner picked up again. But, significantly, he admitted that if he could ride the race again he would have ridden a bit closer to the pace.
Northern Galaxy's rider, Conor O'Dwyer, fresh from his Ladbroke success on Saturday, said: "Tommy's horse got to me but didn't go by, and my horse was idling."
The winner's trainer, Arthur Moore, said immediately after the race: "I don't think we were lucky. They rode the second to get the trip and he didn't find much. If he'd come earlier, Conor would have gone on."
Treacy's ban runs from January 20th to February 9th inclusive, which will cause him to miss nine scheduled fixtures in Ireland.
Elsewhere on yesterday's card, there were a number of what could be significant Cheltenham pointers.
French Ballerina got off the mark at the second time of asking over hurdles in the second division of the Mullacurry Maiden Hurdle, and trainer Pat Flynn has his sights on the Supreme Novices Hurdle for his smart mare.
"We've concentrated on getting her jumping right, but when she's fully wound up, she really will be the business. Jumping is so important because the hurdles in England are like stone walls, but she will be well equal to the Supreme Novices if she's togged out right on the day," Flynn said.
To Your Honour will now be aimed at the Festival Bumper after winning his third Irish bumper in impressive style from Old Trafford Queen. Josh Byrne's mount was always holding his smart opponent in the closing stages, but Francis Flood Jnr will take over the ride at Cheltenham.
