Bellewstown meeting abandoned for second day
Bellewstown’s landmark 300th anniversary fixture was abandoned for the second consecutive day after action was halted following incidents on both days.
Raceday halted after safety review
Racing began on Wednesday but the remainder of the National Hunt card was called off following an incident in the sixth race in which Garrick Painter slipped on the bend. The Raceday Stewards reviewed footage and met with a delegation of riders, the Clerk of the Course, representatives of the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association and the racecourse manager before deciding they could not be satisfied it was safe for racing to continue. The remainder of the fixture was abandoned under Rule 10.
The decision came after a disrupted opening day on Tuesday which included a heavy fall for leading rider Dylan Browne McMonagle; he has been ruled out for a number of weeks as a result.
Racing earlier in the day
Prior to the abandonment, three races were completed. The opening contest, the Tote Guarantee Never Beaten By SP Claiming Hurdle, was taken by Rocky’s Howya for trainer Declan Queally. The five-year-old front-running hurdler again showed his liking for this sort of test, pulling clear to record a sixth win of the year with 5lb claimer Eoin Staples in the saddle. Connections reported the ground as on the slow side of good with some give at the bends.
In the Bet With Tote On Racing & Sports Maiden Hurdle, Thesilverbridle gained a first success under rules at the third attempt. Trained by John McConnell and ridden by Alex Harvey, the mare improved on two earlier runner-up efforts to see off her rivals after the final flight. McConnell said she will be kept in training as a novice through the spring, with potential targets including smaller provincial fixtures such as Sedgefield.
The Money Back Daily Specials With Tote.ie Handicap Hurdle produced a dramatic finish. Ardgillan, trained by Martin Lynch and partnered by 7lb claimer Josh Halford, came from off the pace to snatch the race late at 18-1. The contest had been thrown into disarray early on when Grace’s Legacy and Hatfield Hammer both fell at the first, and a subsequent incident forced the well-backed Dunany Point out approaching a wing of a hurdle in the back straight.
Jockeys and connections
Halford, riding his first notable winner since turning conditional, spoke afterwards about giving Ardgillan time to find a rhythm and keeping clear of trouble in a race that unfolded chaotically. He also acknowledged the role of the trainer and the horse’s connections in the success. The result provided a welcome tonic to the many who had travelled to Bellewstown for the anniversary meeting.
There were two fallers in a delayed race on Tuesday other than the incident involving Dylan Browne McMonagle. Both Adam Caffrey and Ben Coen were reported to have walked away from their falls.
Broader impact
The abandonment will be of particular disappointment given the historical significance of the fixture, but the stewards’ priority in enquiring into the circumstances and acting when they could not be satisfied on safety grounds reflects standard procedure. Further updates about the status of abandoned races, any rescheduling and the welfare of those involved are expected to be issued by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board and the racecourse in due course.
For owners, trainers and supporters who had horses entered later in the card, the abrupt end to the meeting will necessitate changes to plans for the coming weeks as preparations continue across the summer and into the autumn National Hunt season.
