John Murtagh was suspended for seven days at Naas after failing to ride out hot favourite Mirapour, and subsequently headed close home in the opening Go Racing In Kildare Handicap.
The former champion had the Aga Khan-owned gelding at the head of affairs from the start, and victory looked assured for the well-backed 5/4 chance when cruising in front at the furlong pole.
The Meathman twice looked over his right shoulder inside the final furlong, although he later reported to the stewards that he failed to see Pat Cosgrave directly behind him hard at work on Russian Comrade. The latter swept past in the closing stages after Murtagh dropped his hands.
Murtagh, who was loudly jeered by the crowd when returning to the number two spot in the parade ring, is suspended from June 12-17 plus the 19th. This includes day two of the Royal Ascot meeting, and he was also ordered to forfeit his riding fee.
This is the second recent case of a high profile rider losing a race in these circumstances following Paul Carberry easing down Heart Midoltian at Kilbeggan last Monday. The recently crowned champion National Hunt jockey was also given a seven day ban.
Rag Top maintained her unbeaten record when taking the featured Swordlestown Stud Sprint Stakes, the richest juvenile fillies Listed race in Europe at E80,000. Dane O'Neill, riding at the Co. Kildare venue for the first time, soon had the Barathea filly in front, and she kept on well under pressure to beat the Jim Bolger-trained pair, Luminata and Tus Maith, by a length and a short-head.
Richard Hannon junior, representing his father and namesake, said: 'I was worried about the soft ground, but she seemed to handle it well. She is a very good filly, and is in all the good races including the Moyglare and the Cheveley Park.'
Dermot Weld has the Kildangan Stud Irish Oaks in mind for Irresistible Jewel, who put up a fine front-running performance in the Bill Whitehead Memorial EBF Fillies Maiden. The daughter of Danehill stretched clear under Pat Smullen inside the final quarter mile to beat evens favourite Madame Cerito by six lengths, and Weld commented: 'The Pretty Polly Stakes and the Irish Oaks is the logical step. She is a lovely big filly, and has plenty of stamina. She is a good actioned filly, and really wants top of the ground.'
Mr Houdini put a disappointing run at the Curragh behind him when recording a comfortable neck verdict over Cruiskeen Lawn in the Nas Na Riogh Race. 'He ran no sort of race at the Curragh. Seven furlongs, or maybe an easy mile, is his trip, and he wants a bit of an ease in the ground,' said trainer Pat Hughes.
Ted and Ruby Walsh teamed up for a popular local success with Kilcrea Shyan in the Naas Novice Hurdle, striking the front approaching the final flight to beat Taranges by a-length-and-a-half.
The Walsh's were fancied to double up half-an-hour later with Micksie Palmer in the Summer Handicap Hurdle, but Mullaghea Boy proved far too strong in the closing stages under Simon Macken.
Alan Magee
