A shocking incident unfolded at Punchestown, leaving everyone in disbelief. Imagine this: two horses, stablemates owned by JP McManus, were involved in a mind-boggling mix-up! Centreofattention, a maiden hurdler, unexpectedly took the place of Dont Tell Jack in the novice chase. But here’s where it gets even more intriguing…
The mistake was only discovered before the 2m maiden hurdle, an hour and 40 minutes after the novice chase. It was then that the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) realized they had Dont Tell Jack instead of Centreofattention.
With Enda Bolger’s two runners on the card, it soon became clear that Centreofattention had already raced in the novice chase, finishing a respectable seventh. This revelation left everyone scratching their heads, wondering how such a mix-up could happen.
The stewards decided not to take any action regarding the novice chase result, instead referring the matter for further investigation. The raceday report explained that the ‘winner all right’ signal had already been given, limiting their ability to act.
But the story doesn’t end there. Jordan Gainford had a brilliant day, riding a quick double on the card. First, he guided Highland Crystal to victory for Gordon Elliott in the fillies’ academy hurdle, and then he sprang a surprise with Sopelana in the three-year-old hurdle, improving on her previous fourth-place finish.
Koktail Brut also claimed victory in the 2m maiden hurdle, with Centreofattention being a non-runner.
And this is the part most people miss: JP McManus’s day started on a high note with A Great Buzz winning the handicap chase under Mark Walsh’s excellent ride. Trainer Robert Tyner has been on an incredible run, with five winners from ten runners in the last fortnight and a 50% strike rate since September.
This incident at Punchestown is just one in a series of ‘wrong horse’ debacles involving JP McManus’s horses. It raises questions about the protocols in place and the potential consequences. What are your thoughts? Do you think these mix-ups are avoidable, or are they an inevitable part of the sport? We’d love to hear your opinions in the comments!