3 days ago
Under fire jockey Philip Byrnes gets first winner since Wexford unseat controversy
Young jockey wins as Sonnyboyliston comes out swinging at Listowel
Under-fire jockey Philip Byrnes has returned to the winners enclosure at Listowel after his controversial final-hurdle unseat at Wexford.
The young pilot shot to the attention of punters and stewards in midweek after falling off a horse that looked certain to win.
Byrnes was leading the Wexford Claiming Hurdle on Redwood Queen, who is trained by his father Charles, heading into the last obstacle before falling off in a fashion which sparked heated social-media and TV debate and has brought a review from Irish racing chiefs.
The duo teamed-up, however, with Philip getting a first winner since the incident aboard ex-top Flat horse Sonnyboyliston in Listowel's Supporters Club Maiden Hurdle today. Winner of the 2021 Irish St Leger, the eight-year-old triumphed to please punters having been backed on-course from 6/4 to 4/6 favourite.
On the Wednesday incident, the raceday stewards at Wexford felt no further action was required, but the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board have since said the will review. A IHRB spokesperson said on Thursday: '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.'
The review will take into consideration the incident on the racecourse and other factors, such as betting patterns of the race. Redwood Queen had drifted from 7-2 to 13-2 in the betting odds and traded at 1.14 in running beforehand.
The Wexford stewards report said: 'The raceday stewards reviewed the unseating of Philip Byrnes, rider of Redwood Queen, at the last hurdle when leading. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the matter, the raceday stewards took no further action.'
The incident sparked a tasty debate on Saturday morning's ITV Opening Show. Ex-jockey Mick Fitzgerald gave his view on the unseat as footage was shown to viewers and said: 'When you see it on the head-on angle, watch what happens, you'll see his foot come flying out of the stirrup and suddenly his balance has gone to the other side and then he's gone.'
But fellow pundit Megan Nicholls, daughter of multiple-times champion trainer Paul, said: 'But Mick, you have to argue that, to watch that, it looks as if he's jumping off before the horse has basically taken off for the hurdle.'
Speaking to The Irish Field on Friday, Charles Byrnes said he and Philip would be happy to co-operate with any investigation. Asked to explain what happened in the race, the trainer said: 'The mare was running well, going down to the last. Philip has had a couple of last fence falls recently so he wanted her to go in short, pop it and make doubly sure. But she came up out of his hands, hit him on the backside and he was knocked off balance.
'He is very upset about it and won't look at his phone. I was delighted he was able to go racing in Limerick the next day and he gave our two runners two good rides there. The other jockeys have been very supportive, to be fair to them.
'Philip is only 21 and I hope he can get over this setback. He is a good rider. He doesn't get many outside rides but anyone who has used him has been very happy with him. It's a sad day if the Turf Club has to hold an investigation to please these faceless people on social media. We will answer any questions they have. We have nothing to answer to.'
