THE explanations of trainer Arthur Moore and stable jockey Frank Woods, for the apparent improvement in form shown by Grey Guy when winning the Goosander Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse on January 15th, were accepted by the Appeals and Referrals Committee of the Turf Club yesterday.
The committee viewed the video recordings of the horse's runs at Punchestown on April 23rd, Naas on November 9th and at Fairyhouse. Evidence was heard from stewards secretary Michael O'Donogue, senior National Hunt handicapper Niall O'Brien, levy officer Brian Stokes, as well as from Moore and Woods.
Grey Guy's Naas run, where he finished 17th of 25, beaten a total of 33 lengths, had also been the subject of a stewards' inquiry. After the Fairyhouse win, where Grey Guy was backed down from 10 to 1 to 4 to 1 second favourite, the stewards there decided to refer the matter to the Turf Club.
Moore had told the Fairyhouse stewards that he considered that Grey Guy had learnt a lot from the Naas run and was more relaxed during the preliminaries at Fairyhouse compared to Naas, where he became upset in the parade ring.
He also stated that he considered Grey Guy was entitled to start second favourite at Fairyhouse and that the horse had actually ran a fantastic race at Naas.
Meanwhile, bookmakers Paddy Power have started laying prices on the number of Irish-trained winners at this year's Cheltenham Festival. Favourite at 3 to 1 is three successes with last year's total of seven available at 25 to 1.
There were fireworks in the winner's enclosure at Warwick following the February Mares' Only Maiden NH Flat race after the Francois Doumen-trained French raider Erintante slammed Nicky Henderson's Melody Maid by three lengths. "You came all the way here to win £780 and beat me, I hope it was worth it!" stormed Henderson with a tinge of bitterness in his voice.
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