Dustin profits from Stringer's wretched misfortune

A matter of ounces cost Willyelkra yesterday's Kerryman Handicap Hurdle after the 10 to 1 shot's jockey, Patrick Stringer, weighed in light.

Taking the 1lb for his back protector into account, Stringer weighed out for the race, which Willyelkra won by an easy 12 lengths, at 11st 2lb.

A rider is allowed 1lb discretion either way when weighing in to allow for mud or sweating but when Stringer came back, the scales's needle agonisingly just failed to hit the 11st 1lb mark. The race was awarded to the favourite, Dustin.

Willyelkra's trainer, John Bowles, was obviously displeased with the stewards decision and said: "He's a fraction under 11st 1lb and they take the race off him. What's the kid supposed to do. He's sweating out there riding a race."

Stringer told the stewards that he had gone to the toilet after weighing-out and run to a horsebox to get a girth. He said "That may have accounted for the weight loss."

Dustin's trainer, Donie Hassett, commented: "I hate to win that way."

The rest of the day was dominated by Edward O'Grady and Norman Williamson who combined for a 17 to 1 treble.

Go Roger Go duly won the opener at 1 to 5, Eduardo won a division of the maiden hurdle and Nicholls Cross impressively took the handicap chase by 11 lengths from Kaselectric.

It brought Williamson's total for the week to five and put him second in the jockeys table for the season with 18 winners, just two behind Barry Geraghty.

Aidan O'Brien, who hasn't ruled Bernstein out of a quick reappearance in Thursday's Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket, had another winner with Kalahari in the maiden and Moving On Up defied topweight in easy style in the Harp Handicap. Dermot Weld completed a double when Darialann took the last.

The festival winds up today with a comparatively meagre seven race card and the best bet of the day looks to be Waterwing in the two year old race.

The daughter of Owington ran a very promising debut at Gowran last week when ending up only a length off the winner Mitsubishi Trium in a mile maiden.

Waterwing only surrendered the lead at the furlong pole and considering her sprint pedigree, she should be suited by today's drop back to seven furlongs. Golden Storm, not far off Adelphi Theatre at Tralee, looks the danger but may not cope with the soft ground as well.

The most valuable event is the Kaliber Handicap and That's Logic, fifth to Moving On Up over 10 furlongs yesterday, should find the combination of soft ground, an easier contest and the mile trip to his liking.

One horse who wouldn't win out of turn is Gossie Madera, runner up in his last four races including here on Wednesday when beaten three and a half lengths by the fast finishing Early Fin. The Mermaids Handicap, however, can see the pattern change.

Super Franky can make it five successes this year in the opener and although he is better on a sound surface he does have soft ground form last year while the Kilbeggan winner Miles Byrne is the selection to take the following chase.

Tommy Stack, the classic winning trainer and rider of Red Rum, was the centre of attention when he visited Listowel races yesterday.

Stack, who suffered a life threatening attack of meningitis earlier this year, was presented with a portrait of his Grand National winner Red Rum by local writer John B Keane.

Also present to welcome the Co Kerry-born Stack back to the races was Lester Piggott, John Bruton and Albert Reynolds.

The BBC yesterday responded to the threat of legal action by Frankie Dettori over a press release to an item on last night's Newsnight programme by claiming that at no point did it imply the jockey had taken illegal drugs.