The Philip Byrnes Wexford fall looked awful… but some of us must bite our tongues until investigation is complete
PUNTERS were quite rightly stunned and social media went into meltdown after a shock unseat on a horse who drifted like a barge at Wexford on Wednesday.
Philip Byrnes
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3
Redwood Queen looked to have 1-3 market leader Beacon Edge beaten as they approached the last
Credit: Racing TV
3
Redwood Queen landed on all fours having seemingly jumped the hurdle well - only for jockey Philip Byrnes to be unseated
Credit: Racing TV
3
An investigation has been launched into the incident, which came at the final flight after the horse had drifted markedly in the betting
Credit: Racing TV
Although on itself merely an extreme example of desperate riding, what angered many about this was that Redwood Queen had drifted in the betting from 7-2 to 13-2.
She clearly had the race in the bag when the jockey disappeared out the 'side door'.
Byrnes runners, more than most other stables, appear to do best when the money is down.
My Saturday NAP
Advertisement
A Listed winner on comeback from ages off having previously run well in the 2000 Guineas when well fancied - everything, including the strong pace, points to a big run here. Back my tip simply by clicking the odds above.
To an outsider, the County Limerick handler runs what the majority would call a 'gambling outfit', for all that racing fans would have no proof of any financial transactions.
So when a Byrnes runner drifts like a barge, is clear at the last and then the jockey falls off, naturally many will cry foul play.
Only time will tell if that was the case - as the IHRB launch their full investigation.
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But the chances are the case will eventually be dropped.
Only money trails could really prove guilt, and with so much punting action now on the Black Market, if anyone was trying to do something untoward they would have to be very thick indeed to leave any trace.
I did ask one top class jumps rider what they thought of the fall, and their response was interesting.
"Terrible bit of riding really," they said.
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"The horse came out of his hands and he was unbalanced but who knows whether that was enough to fall off?"
They added: "Personally I don't think he's that good a stunt rider. I think if they wanted to throw themselves off it would have looked more obvious.
"It's really hard to throw yourself off a horse. I just don't think he's that good."
Social media is always fascinating on these occasions. People like me – journalists and presenters on TV – tend to come in for a barrage of abuse.
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The general gist is that we 'don't tell it as it is'.
As well as that, we should 'have an opinion' and we won't talk out against the 'racing family'.
What those on social media are actually saying is that if we don't agree with what they suggest we are on the so-called 'gravy train'.
In this case, what those on social media wanted me to say was a jockey had deliberately fallen off a horse who had taken a walk in the betting because connections did not want it to win.
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They would also like me to add the whole game is corrupt.
To say the above is fine for most, although technically there would always be a chance of action being taken against them if the authorities found there was no case to answer.
But if a TV presenter was to say such things – or someone in writing – they would be in court or before lawyers before you could count to ten.
I know this as a fact.
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In my early days of broadcasting I was laid off for a month for two instances which I stand by to today, but which could not be proven.
Did one of those mouthing off on social media offer to help pay my bills because I had publicly stood up for the punters? No they did not.
Being a keyboard warrior is, naturally, a very different world to broadcasting or writing in a newspaper.
Social media has given the people an opening to express themselves like they have never had before.
Advertisement
But just because the rules of the land appear to matter little online, everyone should remember that for broadcasters and journalists it's a different world.
The Wexford incident looked awful. But was it deliberate? I have absolutely no idea.
And at this stage none of you reading this have any concrete proof either. Such is life.
It's the calm before the Derby and Royal Ascot this weekend, but one race I'm excited to watch is Saturday's Group 3 Betfred John Of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock and live on ITV.
Advertisement
Old favourites Audience and Kinross are in the line-up, but it's Alyanaabi who interests me.
He was once fancied for last year's 2000 Guineas, and eventually finished fifth behind Notable Speech.
He carried on at about a mile for Owen Burrows, but his stamina has always been open to question and he returned over course and distance when scoring on May 10.
I was impressed then and everything looks right here for another bold run with a strong pace assured. Come on, Alyanaabi!
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Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Charles Byrnes breaks silence after son's last hurdle unseating
Trainer Charles Byrnes has addressed the final flight unseating of his son, Philip Byrnes, from their horse Redwood Queen. The incident, which occurred during the closing stages of a claiming race at Wexford on Wednesday, is currently being reviewed by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board. Philip Byrnes parted company with Redwood Queen, who was a market drifter before the race, handing victory to odds-on favourite Beacon Edge from Gordon Elliott's stable. Although on-course stewards took no action, the IHRB later stated that a senior official would review the matter. In an interview with the Irish Times, Byrnes senior shared his perspective on what happened to the six-time winner, who will continue racing under new connections. "He (Philip) was trying to get the mare to go in and pop it, because obviously she had the race won, and she came up out of his hands and blew him out of the saddle," he said. "There's no one hurting more than Philip about it." A head-on replay revealed how the Cathal Byrnes-owned Redwood Queen lifted her feet high and jumped the obstacle before Philip Byrnes lost his stirrups and fell to the right, reports the Mirror. The six-time scorer traded at 1.14 in-running, very short odds which summed up the likelihood of winning. Afterwards she was claimed by trainer Cian Collins for €6,000. A summary from the Racing post stated Redwood Queen was "going best 2 out, 2 lengths ahead when jockey unbalanced and unseated last." The Wexford stewards, after viewing a recording of the race, decided against taking further action. "We note the position of the raceday stewards following their review of the incident," remarked an IHRB spokesperson. "We can now confirm the matter is down for review by an IHRB senior racing official." On Saturday trainer and jockey sent the 2021 Ebor winner Sonnyboyliston to the track for his hurdles debut. Making only a third appearance for the stable, the eight-year-old went off at 4-6 after opening up at 6-4 on-course. Philip Byrnes drove him out after Listowel's last jump and the pair reeled in leader Dream Diamond, with Encosta finishing well to split the pair.
Irish Daily Mirror
20 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Under review father-son duo combine for first winner since Redwood Queen unseat
The under review father-son duo of Charles and Phillip Byrnes combined to record a winner at Listowel on Saturday afternoon. Phillip's unseat on Redwood Queen at Wexford on Wednesday has blown up on social media and is under review by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board. But the young jockey was back in the saddle at Listowel and rode 4/6 favourite Sonnyboylisteon to win a maiden hurdle. Formerly trained on the flat by Johnny Murtagh, for whom he won the 2021 Irish St Leger, the eight-year-old gelding was making his debut over obstacles. Speaking after the race, Charles Byrnes told Irish 'He had schooled very well and jumped very well today. 'His owner (Patrick M O'Shea) is from Dublin-side and the reason I got him is he had leg trouble, I wouldn't have him otherwise. I have him a good while but have been nursing him along. 'We've no big expectations and, as long as he stays sound, hopefully can keep progressing. 'Only for the course putting on the water yesterday, he wouldn't have been running.' The Byrnes are under public scrutiny after Redwood Queen, who drifted from 6/4 to 13/2 before the off, had the Wexford Claiming Hurdle at his mercy until Philip Byrnes was unseated jumping the final hurdle. After the race, which ended in a comfortable win for Beacon Edge under jockey Josh Halford for Gordon Elliott, stewards at Wexford looked into the matter but decided against any action, with their report noting: "Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the matter, the raceday stewards took no further action." However, the IHRB has since declared it will be reassessing the event, as conveyed by a spokesperson: "We note the position of the raceday stewards following their review of the incident. I can confirm the matter is down for review by an IHRB senior racing official." After the race, the winning jockey told Racing TV: "It's my ninth winner altogether and it's going great. I can't thank Gordon enough. On paper it was a penalty kick, but I was very lucky to get the opportunity. I thought he could have come on and had the faller covered, but he got the job done. "He was flat out all the way and I tried to hold on to him. Gordon told me to use my head as the trip would be a bit tight, but we got the win anyway so we cannot complain."
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
The Philip Byrnes Wexford fall looked awful… but some of us must bite our tongues until investigation is complete
PUNTERS were quite rightly stunned and social media went into meltdown after a shock unseat on a horse who drifted like a barge at Wexford on Wednesday. Philip Byrnes Advertisement 3 Redwood Queen looked to have 1-3 market leader Beacon Edge beaten as they approached the last Credit: Racing TV 3 Redwood Queen landed on all fours having seemingly jumped the hurdle well - only for jockey Philip Byrnes to be unseated Credit: Racing TV 3 An investigation has been launched into the incident, which came at the final flight after the horse had drifted markedly in the betting Credit: Racing TV Although on itself merely an extreme example of desperate riding, what angered many about this was that Redwood Queen had drifted in the betting from 7-2 to 13-2. She clearly had the race in the bag when the jockey disappeared out the 'side door'. Byrnes runners, more than most other stables, appear to do best when the money is down. My Saturday NAP Advertisement A Listed winner on comeback from ages off having previously run well in the 2000 Guineas when well fancied - everything, including the strong pace, points to a big run here. Back my tip simply by clicking the odds above. To an outsider, the County Limerick handler runs what the majority would call a 'gambling outfit', for all that racing fans would have no proof of any financial transactions. So when a Byrnes runner drifts like a barge, is clear at the last and then the jockey falls off, naturally many will cry foul play. Only time will tell if that was the case - as the IHRB launch their full investigation. Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing But the chances are the case will eventually be dropped. Only money trails could really prove guilt, and with so much punting action now on the Black Market, if anyone was trying to do something untoward they would have to be very thick indeed to leave any trace. I did ask one top class jumps rider what they thought of the fall, and their response was interesting. "Terrible bit of riding really," they said. Advertisement "The horse came out of his hands and he was unbalanced but who knows whether that was enough to fall off?" They added: "Personally I don't think he's that good a stunt rider. I think if they wanted to throw themselves off it would have looked more obvious. "It's really hard to throw yourself off a horse. I just don't think he's that good." Social media is always fascinating on these occasions. People like me – journalists and presenters on TV – tend to come in for a barrage of abuse. Advertisement The general gist is that we 'don't tell it as it is'. As well as that, we should 'have an opinion' and we won't talk out against the 'racing family'. What those on social media are actually saying is that if we don't agree with what they suggest we are on the so-called 'gravy train'. In this case, what those on social media wanted me to say was a jockey had deliberately fallen off a horse who had taken a walk in the betting because connections did not want it to win. Advertisement They would also like me to add the whole game is corrupt. To say the above is fine for most, although technically there would always be a chance of action being taken against them if the authorities found there was no case to answer. But if a TV presenter was to say such things – or someone in writing – they would be in court or before lawyers before you could count to ten. I know this as a fact. Advertisement In my early days of broadcasting I was laid off for a month for two instances which I stand by to today, but which could not be proven. Did one of those mouthing off on social media offer to help pay my bills because I had publicly stood up for the punters? No they did not. Being a keyboard warrior is, naturally, a very different world to broadcasting or writing in a newspaper. Social media has given the people an opening to express themselves like they have never had before. Advertisement But just because the rules of the land appear to matter little online, everyone should remember that for broadcasters and journalists it's a different world. The Wexford incident looked awful. But was it deliberate? I have absolutely no idea. And at this stage none of you reading this have any concrete proof either. Such is life. It's the calm before the Derby and Royal Ascot this weekend, but one race I'm excited to watch is Saturday's Group 3 Betfred John Of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock and live on ITV. Advertisement Old favourites Audience and Kinross are in the line-up, but it's Alyanaabi who interests me. He was once fancied for last year's 2000 Guineas, and eventually finished fifth behind Notable Speech. He carried on at about a mile for Owen Burrows, but his stamina has always been open to question and he returned over course and distance when scoring on May 10. I was impressed then and everything looks right here for another bold run with a strong pace assured. Come on, Alyanaabi! Advertisement FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
