ASTONISHING scenes unfolded at Dundalk as 12 jockeys – including a Cheltenham Festival hero – were banned following a ‘truly shocking’ race.
A jaw-dropping number of riders were hauled in for questioning and suspended after Wrecking Ball Paul’s easy win in the 2m amateur handicap.
Winning rider Kevin Healy, 17, was gifted an easy lead on the free-going runner and it stretched to around 100 lengths mid-way through the race.
But none of the jockeys in behind bothered to try to catch up, with 18-1 Wrecking Ball Paul sauntering past the post some 15 lengths clear and barely out of breath.
Punters were in shock at what they had seen on Friday night.
With the win reminiscent of Charlotte Jones’ memorable victory on The Steward at Newcastle a few years ago.
Last year’s Champion Bumper winner John Gleeson on A Dream To Share was one of those to pick up a five-day ban.
As was Gordon Elliott’s top amateur rider Harry Swan, the son of Cheltenham Festival legend Charlie.
The stewards’ report read: “Having taken each individual rider’s record in this regard into account, the raceday stewards suspended the following riders for five days: Mr P.A Dunne, Mr H.C Swan, Mr A.P Ryan, Mr F Maguire, Mr A Harvey, Mr B.M Coonan, Miss G Benson, Mr J.L Gleeson, Mr R James, Miss A.B O’Connor, Mr S.P Queally and Mr P Hanlon.”
Upon further questioning, Dunne said he ‘did not see how far the winner was in front until approaching the last bend’.
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Swan added that ‘he knew the winner had gone too far in front and shouted at the other riders to close the gap’.
While Harvey ‘stated that his mount ran keen and going round the back he had no room and had to sit and suffer’.
One punter felt the stewards had not gone far enough though and commented: “Should be 14 days minimum for all of them – truly shocking race riding.”
Another post read: “The ones in behind fully deserve their five-day holiday.”
A viewer said: “Not sure what I’ve just seen at Dundalk. Wrecking Ball Paul rides them to sleep.”
The bans didn’t end there, though.
Trainer John McConnell was questioned about the behaviour of his horse Khadaash who stood in the stalls ‘for a considerable time’ before eventually starting and being pulled up.
The horse was subsequently banned for 30 days – meaning a total of 90 days of bans were handed out following the race.
Healy was the only one smiling at the end after banging in his first winner on just his third ride.
And he told Racing TV: “He’s a serious horse galloping and fair play to Paul Mulligan (trainer) because that’s the third week he’s been running and he’s a hardy horse.
“He went very well and I didn’t actually realise how much of a gap there was until I came round the home bend.
“I knew then I had lots of horse left under me and I wasn’t too worried.
“Paul said to get a breather into him and I gave him one down the back, but I didn’t realise how far ahead I was.
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“Paul is good friends with my father and he asked if I wanted to ride him.
“I couldn’t believe it and I’m delighted to get my first winner. It was my third ride and it was great to get the win.”
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Sam Morgan
