M.J.P. O’Brien – Mesopotamia
Limerick – 1st May & Punchestown 20th May 2006

The Referrals Committee Dr. Gordon A. Holmes (in the Chair), Mr. P.J.A. O’Connor and Mrs. T.K. Cooper met at the Standhouse Hotel, The Curragh, Co. Kildare on 29th August 2006 to consider an objection lodged by Mr. Denis Egan, Keeper of the Matchbook, into the placings gained by Mesopotamia in the Coyle Hamilton Willis 5-y-o Maiden Hurdle at Limerick on 1st May and the Punchestown Three Day Event & Horseshow Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown on 20th May where Mesopotamia finished second in both races.  The objection was lodged on the basis that it was not Mesopotamia who finished second in both races, but was in fact another horse that ran under the name of Mesopotamia.

Evidence was heard from Mr. Egan.  The Committee also considered a transcript of the Stewards Enquiry held at Galway on 1st August 2006 where Mesopotamia was withdrawn from the Tote.ie Online Betting Maiden Hurdle due to the fact that the horse presented at Galway as Mesopotamia could not be identified as being that horse.  They also considered a fax received from M.J.P. O’Brien, trainer.

Having considered the evidence the Committee disqualified Mesopotamia from both races and ordered that the placings be amended to read as follows:

Limerick – 1st May 2006

Coyle Hamilton Willis 5-y-o Maiden Hurdle
First:        What’s Up Doc
Second:    Cuan Na Grai
Third:        Well Young Man
Fourth:    Alston Angel

Punchestown – 20th May 2006

Punchestown Three Day Event and Horseshow Maiden Hurdle
First:        Line Ball
Second:    Levitski (GB)
Third:        Truagh Castle
Fourth:    Silent Wind (GER)

The Committee decided that no further action was appropriate because in imposing a fine of €2,000 at Galway, the Acting Stewards had taken into account the fact that the wrong horse had run at both Limerick and Punchestown.

The case was presented by Mr. Denis Egan, Keeper of the Matchbook.