Farcical scenes were witnessed at an Irish Racecourse for the second time in eight days at Limerick today, where four runners in the featured Anglo Irish Bank Munster National Handicap Chase were disqualified after taking the wrong course.
The incident was caused when Clonmel's Minella fatally slipped up between the seventh and eight fences. On the next circuit (after the third last fence) three flagmen attempted to wave the remaining nine runners onto the hurdle course, away from the stricken horse.
Only five of the nine runners took the right course, and although all nine horses rejoined on the chase track, four horses were later disqualified for not completing on the right course.
Mouse Morris' Brownie Returns (20/1) eventually won, having completed the course correctly. The winner, who was 20lbs out of the handicap and looked set for sixth when the incident occurred, could be considered one of the luckiest ever winners of the race.
Elsewhere, jockey Paul Carberry recorded a treble.
The opening leg of Carberry's hat-trick was in the opening Novice Hurdle on Dermot Weld's Lowlander, who easily defeated Ballysheedy by three and a half lengths.
Weld later described the winner as a 'lovely chasing prospect.'
The middle leg of Carberry's treble was gained on Theseus in the Sherry Fitzgerald O'Malley Chase. The 11/8 favourite was never in any danger of defeat, eventually winning by nine lengths.
Trainer Edward O'Grady provided Carberry with his final winner when top weight Barningham battled on gamelyl to defeat Koln Stars. O'Grady later stated 'Barningham ran in his first handicap hurdle last Sunday and benefited from the run.'
O'Grady later completed a double when Vatirisk turned the 2m1f beginners' chase into a procession, under Barry Geraghty.
The three mile handicap hurdle was won by the Joe Crowley-trained winner Delgany Rose, who was ridden by promising seven pound claimer John Allen.
Eugene O'Sullivan's Teo Perugo won the two mile four year old hurdle under David Casey. O'Sullivan later stated 'he has been a consistent horse but has been unlucky not to have won until now. He will probably have one more run before being given a break.'
The bumper was won by Culmore Lady for trainer Tom Hogan and jockey Rory Tierney.
The sponsors of the feature race, Anglo Irish Bank, generously sponsored stable staff with free racecards and food during the day.
Thomas Weekes.
