D.T. Hughes / O Fortuna – Punchestown 16th February 2011

The Referrals Committee, Neville O’Byrne (in the Chair), Ms. Meta Osborne and J.R. Craigie met in the Turf Club, The Curragh, Co. Kildare on Thursday, 3rd March 2011 to consider the referral of D.T. Hughes, trainer of O Fortuna, when following the running of the Champagne and Seafood Festival Package Maiden Hurdle (Div 1) at Punchestown on 16th February 2011, he was referred for a possible breach in Rule 213 as the Stewards were of the opinion that he failed to report something that may have affected the horse on his previous two runs.

Evidence was heard from D.T. Hughes who referred to the horses previous two runs and the subsequent scoping of the horse after each of the races.  He said in his view, while some muck was discovered on the scope after the horse’s run at Cork on 21st March 2010, he didn’t feel that it affected the horses performance.  The scope after the horses run at Cork on 13th December 2010 was clear though he did accept that the horse made a noise which he said can occur sometimes to horses running on heavy ground.  He said he could not explain why the horse had run so badly on each occasion.

Having considered the evidence the Committee accepted the explanations given and found that there was no breach of rule.

The case was presented by Denis Egan, Chief Executive of the Turf Club.