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Harley Dean Dunne (Handler) Referral - Limerick (F) Athlacca Point to Point, 6 April 2025.

The Referrals Committee, Mr Martin P O’Donnell (Chairman), Mr John Murphy and Mr Anthony Byrne convened at the Offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Wednesday, 18 June 2025 to consider a referral from an IHRB Senior Racing Official in relation to the identification of Jet To Glory, trained by Harley Dean Dunne, who was due to run atthe Co. Limerick (F) Athlacca Point to Point fixture on Sunday 6 April 2025.

On the day, the Acting Stewards received a report from Mr Anthony Ryan, IHRB Veterinary Officer, that Susan Scott, IHRB Official was unable to positively identify Jet To Glory as there was a discrepancy with the microchip number in the horse presented to run and the microchip list containing all microchips for runners at the fixture. Mr Ryan added that the microchip scanned in the horse presented appeared to be that of an unnamed 4yo filly by Jet Away x Curragh Na Gold. The Acting Stewards ordered the withdrawal of the horse from the race and referred the matter to a Senior Racing Official for further investigation, a blood sample was also taken by Mr Ryan for DNA Analysis. 

At the Referrals Committee hearing, evidence was heard from Mr Dunne.

In his evidence, Mr Dunne apologised for the misunderstanding and accepted he was in breach of the rules for presenting the wrong horse on the day. Mr Dunne explained that in the summer of 2024 he viewed a number of horses in a field which included two theee-year-old chestnut fillies, both by Jet Away. Mr Dunne believed he chose the three-year-old Jet Away x Lilys Glory filly. Mr Dunne accepted that he did not check the identity of the filly on the day in accordance with Rule 85 (vi).

Having considered the evidence, the Referrals Committee found Mr Dunne in breach of Rule 85 (vi) and fined him €250.

The case was presented by Ms Christine Traynor BL, IHRB Head of Racing Regulation and Integrity.


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