Queries delay drug hearings

RACING/News: The Turf Club chief executive admitted yesterday that it could be "some time" before the adjourned hearings into the remaining morphine cases can be heard.

Seven cases have to be heard by the Appeals and Referrals Committee but solicitors acting for the connections of the seven horses have raised certain queries with the Turf Club.

"We are anxious to go ahead as soon as possible but it's impossible to quantify when it will happen. It could take some time," said Denis Egan.

"The solicitors have raised certain questions and we are dealing with what has to be set out in advance of the hearing," he added.

One horse, the Christy Roche- trained Kadiskar, has already been disqualified due to a positive morphine sample found in a feed stuff.

Solicitors acting for seven other horses have engaged the leading equine drug and medication control expert, Prof Thomas Tobin who is based in the US.

Thirty five positive cases have been confirmed in the UK including the Willie Mullins- trained Be My Royal who won November's Hennessy Gold Cup.

Another Mullins-trained horse, One Night Out, faces disqualification from a Fairyhouse success if the morphine appeal isn't successful but appears today at Clonmel with what looks a winning chance.

A 33 to 1 SunAlliance Chase outsider with Cashmans, One Night Out brings a 126 rating into the conditions chase which is a pretty convincing argument despite the uncertain form of some of the Mullins string.

Mr Babbage is the latest Mullins bumper newcomer to appear but in this case it could pay to side instead with Sean D who ran a decent fourth on his Leopardstown debut behind Storm Boxer.

Local trainer Mouse Morris could have a successful day, starting off with Soul in the handicap hurdle.

This one carries 8lb extra for giving a three and a half length beating to On The Forty at Thurles and that doesn't look enough to stop a follow up.

Equivocal has three parts of a length to make up on Satcoman on Punchestown form behind Berkley but on the forecast "soft" going the Roselier horse could be the one to come out on top this time in the three-mile maiden.

Be The Hokey Joe is the dark horse in the opening maiden but the Roche runner will have to face up to Parsons Legacy who ran an okay third to Talking Tactics at Gowran on Saturday.