Charles Byrnes fined €6,000 and Gearoid Brouder suspended for 21 days

Stewards at Gowran Park fined trainer Charles Byrnes €6,000 and suspended apprentice jockey Gearoid Brouder for 21 days after arriving at the view that Ellatt had been prevented from running on his merits in the last race at Gowran Park on Wednesday.

Ellaat, who opened as the 2-1 favourite before being sent off the 3-1 jolly, finished fourth in the contest over a mile and six furlongs, four-and-three-quarter lengths behind 16-1 shot Sequoiaspirit.

Ellaat was suspended from competing for 90 days.

The IHRB stewards report stated: "Evidence was heard from the rider and trainer concerned. GP Brouder stated that his instructions were to settle his mount early, get it to relax as it had made a noise previously and to do his best from there. He said his mount settled well but made a noise at the first bend and this continued throughout the race. He said he tried to quicken the pace from about halfway so it would not turn into a sprint in the closing stages and that his mount hung right in the home straight, but despite this was ridden to the best of his ability.

"He concluded by stating that his mount was leg weary after the winning post and was dismounted and walked back in. He accepted that his mount took some time to pull up after the race and had continued galloping until after the mile start.

"When questioned why he did not pull up his mount during the race despite making such a noise, he stated that he was happy to continue because it had made a noise previously.

"C Byrnes confirmed the instructions given and referred to his charges wind issues. He said he was disappointed with the ride given and referred to it as 'not pretty viewing' but when asked if he felt the rider should have pulled his charge up, he stated that the rider