Michael Hussey gets 14-day ban

Jockey Michael Hussey was hit with a 14-day ban after finishing runner-up in the Curragh's mile handicap and admitting he hadn't seen the winner, Bobby Jean, who raced wide of the field.

Hussey finished half a length off Bobby Jean on the 33 to 1 outsider My Painter, whose trainer Denis Hogan subsequently told the stewards enquiry he was very annoyed and felt his filly should have won.

The stewards suspended Hussey for breaching the “non-trier” rules and an official spokesman said: “He put his hands up and said he should have won. He said he hadn’t seen the winner. He has got 14 days and forfeited his riding fee.”

Fascinating Rock’s Group Three Mooresbridge Stakes highlighted a valuable double for the Dermot Weld-Pat Smullen team.

Tombelaine had earlier booked a ticket for the Irish 2,000 Guineas with a gutsy defeat of Endless Drama in the Listed Tetrarch Stakes and Fascinating Rock could have his own Group One targets later in the year.

“We’ll campaign him at home for the moment, in those races I used to win with Famous Name, and in the second half of the season we’ll look at more serious targets,” Weld said.

Heavy conditions

Tombelaine is bred to hate heavy conditions but he showed plenty of resolve to win by half a length and his trainer said: “He can represent us well in an Irish Guineas. And he might be a horse for something like the Jersey Stakes later on.”

Colin Keane also doubled up on Dragon Fei and Urbestchance who was too strong for Fort Del Oro in the final maiden.