12/07/2023  Happy Valley  Race 5

On entering the track, SNOWALOT made contact with a rail. SNOWALOT was examined by the Veterinary Officer on arrival at the barriers and passed suitable to race. RUNNING AHEAD was slow to begin. TURQUOISE ALPHA stood flat-footed on jumping and lost ground. Before being allowed to race again, TURQUOISE ALPHA will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. On jumping, SNOWALOT made contact with the left side of its barrier. RIGHT HONOURABLE shifted out and away from CORDYCEPS ONE at the start and bumped CHARMANDER. VILLA FIONN was crowded on jumping between FORTUNE PRESIDENT and CONCERTO, both of which shifted ground. BEAUTY MISSION jumped awkwardly. STORMTROUPER raced wide and without cover for the majority of the event. The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in when they considered as to whether CORDYCEPS ONE had either been denied a fair start or alternatively gained an advantage at the start. Evidence was taken from L Hewitson, rider of CORDYCEPS ONE, and the Starter, Mr A Speechley. The Stewards established that as the start was effected, CORDYCEPS ONE, which had been fractious in the barriers, lunged forward and made contact with the front of the gate simultaneously and as a result jumped awkwardly and shifted out abruptly. The Stewards were satisfied that CORDYCEPS ONE had been provided full opportunity to jump and had gained no advantage from the incident at the start. Accordingly, weighed-in was declared on the numbers semaphored by the Judge. Before being allowed to race again, CORDYCEPS ONE will be required to perform satisfactorily in a series of consecutive barrier trials. A veterinary inspection of CORDYCEPS ONE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of VILLA FIONN, TURQUOISE ALPHA and CHARMANDER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. GOLD TACK, CONCERTO and SNOWALOT were sent for sampling.