The Referrals Committee, Judge Tony Hunt (in the Chair), N.P. Lambert and Mrs. T.K. Cooper met at the Turf Club, The Curragh, Co. Kildare on Monday, 28th January 2013 to consider the referral of Denis P. Quinn, trainer of Gallant Oscar, following the running of the Festival Hospitality from €99 Beginners Steeplechase at Punchestown on 12th January 2013, where he was referred for possible breach of Rule 213, as the Stewards were of the opinion that he failed to report something that may have affected the horse on his previous run.

Evidence was heard from Denis P. Quinn.  In his evidence he said that he didn’t make any report following the horse’s previous run at Punchestown as he did not believe that the matter warranted reporting, in view of the fact that the racecourse vet John A. Stafford, who examined the horse on the day, did not feel that the matter affected the horse’s performance.  He also said the horse had been hobdayed and always makes a noise in running.  Mr. Quinn presented the report that was completed following the horse’s previous run confirming the above facts.  In conclusion, he said that his authorised representative (Gearoid O’Loughlin) was inexperienced and overstated the veterinary finding at the original enquiry.

Having considered the evidence, the Committee accepted the explanation and found that Mr. Quinn was not in breach of Rule 213.  In arriving at their finding, they noted that the precise veterinary evidence presented today was not available to the Stewards at Punchestown on 12th January 2013.

The case was presented by Paul Murtagh, Stipendiary Steward.