FORMER champion National Hunt trainer Arthur Moore has been referred to the Appeals and Referrals Committee of the Turf Club following the victory at Fairyhouse yesterday of his well-fancied Grey Guy.
Backed from 10 to 1 to 4 to 1 second favourite, Grey Guy set out to make all the running in the Goosander Maiden Hurdle and, despite being almost caught between the last two hurdles, lengthened away on the run in to justify stable confidence in style.
The subject of a stewards inquiry on his previous start at Naas on November 9th, when he finished 33 lengths 17th of 25 in a similar event won by Murphy's Malt, Grey Guy looked a horse with a big future when seeing off the flattering challenge of the favourite Saving Bond which cruised up in the hands of Richard Hughes going to the second last.
Quickening again into the final flight Frank Woods had the Grey Guy jumping the obstacle the better of the pair and they were always in control to the line to relieve the bookmakers of a tidy sum.
The stewards called both trainer Moore and jockey Woods before them to explain the apparent improvement in form.
Moore stated that Grey Guy had learnt a lot from his previous start and was more relaxed in the preliminaries.
He was satisfied to let him go to the front and jump from hurdle to hurdle, considering his charge was entitled to be second favourite today."
After hearing evidence from the trainer and the jockey as well as handicapper Noel O'Brien, who said that in his opinion there was an abnormal improvement in form, the stewards were not satisfied with the explanations and referred the matter on to the appeals and referrals committee.
Punters were also on the mark in the Teale Handicap Hurdle, the Noel Meade-trained Fiddlers Bow VI, being supported from 9 to 4 to 6 to 4 before getting hack on the winning trail with something to spare.
Patiently handled by Paul Carberry, Fiddlers Bow VI made significant headway on the inner from three out in a fast run contest, popped the last without breaking stride and was good value for a three and a half length verdict over 10 to 1 chance Mulkev Prince.
However, Carberry dismounted the gelding before reaching the unsaddling enclosure reporting to locally-based trainer Meade that he felt the winner go lame pulling up.
Carberry had a fortunate escape from injury in the opening EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle when the Tom Foley-trained Sheisagale collapsed and died on the way to the start, having run third at Punchestown two days previously.
Likewise in action at Punchestown 48 hours earlier, the John Fowler-trained Shining Willow showed her courage and durability by again making all the running to follow up on that initial steeplechasing success in another qualifier for the Tattersalls EBF Mares Novice Chase series.
Again ridden with enterprise by Conor O'Dwyer, Shining Willow carries the colours of English-based owner Simon Tindall and, provided she adapts to handicap company in the meantime, may well take her chance in the final of the series at Uttoxeter in March.
