Charles and Philip Byrnes were among the winners on Saturday when former Ebor winner and favourite Sonnyboyliston scored at odds of 4-6 in a 2m½f maiden hurdle at Listowel
Trainer Charles Byrnes has spoken out about his son’s controversial final flight fall from their horse Redwood Queen. The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board is investigating the incident that saw Philip Byrnes come off the mare in the closing stages of a claiming race at Wexford on Wednesday.
A market drifter beforehand, Redwood Queen’s departure gifted the race to odds on favourite Beacon Edge from Gordon Elliott’s stable. On-course stewards took no action but the IHRB stepped in and said the matter would be looked at again by a senior official.
Speaking to the Irish Times, Byrnes senior gave his view on what happened to the six-time winner, who will race on for 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 showed how Cathal Byrnes-owned Redwood Queen picked her feet up and jumped the obstacle high before Philip Byrnes loses his stirrups and exits to the right.
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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 report viewed a recording of the race and took no further action, a decision which frustrated some punters.
“We note the position of the raceday stewards following their review of the incident,” an IHRB spokesperson said. “We can now confirm the matter is down for review by an IHRB senior racing official.”
On Saturday trainer and jockey sent their lightly-raced 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.