The Referrals Committee, Mr. Edward Flannery (in the Chair), Mrs. T.K. Cooper and Mrs. J.O. Onions, met at the Stand House Hotel, The Curragh, Co. Kildare, on Tuesday, 12th December, 2006, to consider a referral from the Acting Stewards at Down Royal on 3rd November, 2006, when following the running of the Alexander Forbes Handicap Steeplechase, the Stewards were concerned about the apparent improvement in form of the winner, “The Penitent Man”, trained by Mr. F. Flood and ridden by K.T. Coleman.  Mr. Flood was not present and there was no designated representative acting on his behalf so the Stewards referred the matter to the Referrals Committee for further investigation.  The Committee heard evidence from Mr. Flood, K.T. Coleman, Mr. P.F. Graffin, Steward Secretary on duty, and Mr. Noel O’Brien, Senior National Hunt Handicapper.

Having considered the evidence, the Referrals Committee accepted the explanation.