To Your Honour has bad tumble

To Your Honour was last night receiving veterinary treatment after a dramatic fall at Naas yesterday threatened the rest of his season.

The Francis Flood-trained gelding, as low as 10 to 1 for the Sun Alliance Hurdle, was tracking the leaders into the straight in the incident-packed Slaney Hurdle when he fell on the flat and brought down the on-coming Rossmill Native.

To Your Honour, who started the 4 to 7 favourite, was quickly back on his feet but returned with blood coming from his nostrils and with suspected broken ribs.

"He will have to recover very quickly for us to get him to Cheltenham and he could be out for the rest of the season," said Francis Flood snr. "He just put his foot in a hole and turned over. He was running away at the time," said a disappointed jockey Francis Flood jnr.

Glazeaway went on to win the race in controversial circumstances and the mare's owner Mrs Fiona O'Connor said: "We will probably have to think about Cheltenham for her now."

Such incidents helped deflect initial disgruntlement among many race-goers who had turned up early, unaware that the abandonment of the steeplechases meant a five-race card started at 1.45.

Heavy overnight rain and snow made the chase track unraceable but although RTE were contacted in the morning, there was reportedly no mention of the Naas delay in their news bulletins.

"Racing was possible on the chase track on Saturday evening but the weather then turned terrible. We followed the procedures laid down for such changes but a lot of people came early," said the course manager Margaret McGuinness. Vouchers for a £2 reduction in admission charges at future Nass meetings were handed out as the crowd left.

Rider Tommy Treacy had no complaints, however, as he won the opening two races on Bamford Castle (8 to 1) and Saxophone (12 to 1).

Bamford Castle, racing in the colours of the Irish National winner Luska, took advantage of the disappointing debut from the favourite Right Job in the Barrow Maiden Hurdle to win for Paddy Mullins and his cousin John Brophy.

"He clouted a few hurdles at Fairyhouse on Friday and probably learned from that. But I didn't think he'd beat the favourite," said Mullins.

Saxophone was none too fluent at some of the obstacles in the Gowla Maiden Hurdle but quickened well on the run-in to dispose of the favourite What's Up Boys.

"He can be clumsy but he appears to be able to get from one to the next. I hope he will be better over fences but that won't be until next season," said trainer Jim Dreaper.

Beeper's Gale made all the running under Tom Rudd to win the Slate Handicap Hurdle but she had to withstand a strong challenge from Ontheboil all the way up the straight to win holding on by a head.

Charlie Swan had his third winner of the New Year, and amateur John O'Meara had the third winner of his career, when Streamstown galloped on resolutely to land the bumper by 11 lengths from Dram Hurler.