28-1 into evens winner at Downpatrick referred to IHRB after inquiry into apparent improvement in form

The success of the gambled-on Anyway in the 2m2f handicap hurdle at Downpatrick on Monday was referred to the IHRB after the raceday stewards took betting patterns into consideration and inquired into the horse’s improvement in form.

The five-year-old had been comprehensively beaten on his first five racecourse starts and was available at 28-1 on Monday morning, but returned at evens after sustained support. Ken Budds, who trains Anyway for his father, was among those collecting.

A spare ride for Mikey O'Sullivan, the gelding by Jukebox Jury bolted up, getting to the front after the last and clearing away to score by an easy eight and a half lengths from topweight Gwan Tadhg.

"He did it well,” said Budds. “He’s just a very green horse and he still has loads to learn. He woke up after the last day a bit and had done a few good pieces of work. My old fella will be happy, anyway. I had to back him as I get no training fees, I have to get money somewhere!"

The horse, now running in the colours of Budds's father Paddy, was bought at the 2021 Land Rover Sale by Charles Byrnes, who landed a treble on the card courtesy of Dubeyeracingcraic, Reverend Hubert and Grozni.

Byrnes was interviewed by the stewards after his runner Karloss was withdrawn from the race won by Anyway. He said the horse had slipped in the trailer and sweated up on the way to the course, so he felt it was in his best interests to be declared a non-runner.

He added that the owners of Karloss were travelling behind him and brought the horse back to his yard and that is why he did not arrive at the racecourse with his other runners. The raceday stewards referred the matter to a senior racing official for further investigation.

The Byrnes-trained Dubeyeracingcraic won the 2m2f maiden hurdle at 2-1, having opened at 100-30, just eight days after being beaten 43 lengths on her hurdling debut at Tramore. 

The trainer indicated the switch to hurdles had brought out improvement in his second winner Reverend Hubert, who scored at odds of 8-15. 

He said: "Reverend Hubert loves jumping, it's the secret to him. He doesn't do a stroke at home, but the hurdles set him alight. He wants good ground. We might travel with him and there might be something at Cheltenham in October for him." 

Grozni was backed into 5-4 during the afternoon but drifted out to his morning price of 7-2 by the start of the 2m3f beginners' chase. Byrnes said. "He stays three miles and he was always going to come home well. He's in the sales at Doncaster, but I don't know yet if he goes there."

Charles Byrnes: successful with three of his four runnersCredit: Edward Whitaker

The trainer was denied a four-timer when 7-4 favourite I Am Spider Man was well beaten in the 2m3f handicap chase.

Although money for Byrnes's runners did not amount to anything significant according to Paddy Power, the firm reported "a lot of activity" for Anyway.

Spokesman Paul Binfield said: “We laid Mr Byrnes’s four runners in multiples at Downpatrick, although given their price and market position, it was nothing of major significance.

“The trainer did initially have five runners on the card, although the well-backed Karloss was withdrawn from the 2.40. That race was won by Anyway, who was backed from a high of 28-1 this morning into evens and was one we had seen a lot of activity for."

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