Society Brief looks one to follow over fences this season after smoothly justifying favouritism in the Mount Leinster Beginners Chase at Wexford yesterday and, in the process, initiated a double for trainer Arthur Moore. The Moscow Society gelding was always travelling well on the heels of the leaders for Barry Cash and headed How Ran On approaching the last for a cosy win.
"He will go handicapping now in two-mile events and we will find something for him over Christmas," said Moore of the sixyear-old, owned by a syndicate of Thurles businessmen, including former Minister Michael Lowry.
Lord Of The Dance was also a strong order in the ring for the Lacken Handicap Chase, landing in front over the last under Tommy Treacy to beat Joes Dante by four lengths. "He may run again at Clonmel next Tuesday," said Moore, who reported that Klairon Davis had travelled over safely by ferry on Wednesday for tomorrow's Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown.
Grange Leader routed his 15 rivals in the first division of the Three Rocks Maiden Hurdle, making all and drawing clear over half a mile out.
The Ger O'Leary-trained Pompier got his hurdling career off to a winning start in the opening Vinegar Hill Maiden Hurdle. The easy-to-back 10 to 1 chance paid a £283.60 win dividend on the Tote.
The Irish Horseracing Authority (IHA) are urgently seeking a meeting with the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Joe Walsh, after the surprise abolition of on course betting tax in Wednesday's Budget, writes Brian O'Connor.
In a statement yesterday, the IHA noted that the Minister for Finance said that the betting tax abolition was conditional on a satisfactory alternative for raising money for racing being found. The IHA chief executive, Noel Ryan, said: "I don't think anybody expected this and we will be seeking clarification of what is intended.
"Everybody would love to think that Irish racing could have taxfree betting on the track, but in every country racing is supported by a betting levy of some kind.
"We obviously need to speak to the Minister for Agriculture urgently to discuss proposals for alternative sources of income."
