Another gamble: Ronan McNally runner attracts support at Gowran Park

Trainer Ronan McNally is at the centre of another big gamble with Easy Cash D'alex heavily-backed at Gowran on Friday, less than two weeks on from the controversial victory of Dreal Deal at Navan.

McNally sends out just his second runner since the Dreal Deal episode and Easy Cash D'alex was as short as 11-4 (from a morning high of 8-1), having been a general 14-1 on Thursday evening.

Prior to the off, Easy Cash D'alex was easy to back, drifting out to 9-1 from an opening show of 5-1 for the 2m handicap hurdle (3.10).

The six-year-old, who – like Dreal Deal – is also owned by McNally, has made two starts this year, both coming at Ayr when he was sent off at 50-1.

The Armagh trainer admitted to backing Dreal Deal, who went off the 6-4 favourite from 20-1 the night before, and said he was disillusioned by the reaction of the authorities and on social media, saying "the whole thing is a joke".

The stewards at Navan passed on the matter to the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board referrals committee for further investigation.

'The whole thing's a joke': McNally hits out over reaction to Dreal Deal win

Dreal Deal had form figures over jumps of 0000880 heading to a handicap hurdle at Navan on September 19, but the five-year-old won by six and a half lengths despite almost losing his rider at the first hurdle. He had been sent off at 100-1, 250-1, 200-1 and 100-1 in his four outings since racing resumed in June.

McNally responded by saying the race at Navan was "abysmal" and argued gambles like Dreal Deal are being carried out every day of the week with nothing done about them.

In June last year, the trainer said he felt like a criminal after he was interviewed by the stewards at Southwell before The Jam Man, backed into 9-4 favourite (from 18 the night before), landed another big gamble.

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