Jockey Ambrose McGovern was guilty of nothing more than an “error of judgement” when finishing fast to take third place on Davids Charm in a Killarney maiden hurdle on May 16th, the Referrals Committee found this week. The running and riding case had been passed on to the Committee by the acting stewards at Killarney who opted not to deal with the matter on the day.

Stewards’ secretary Hugh Hynes told the Committee that the acting stewards felt McCurtin used his whip “like it was for show rather than effect” in the closing stages and said that the rider was capable of riding to a better standard.

Trainer John Joe Walsh told the Committee that he had never before been involved in a running and riding case in 54 years as a trainer. He said Davids Charm was excitable and difficult to train. He added that he was not fully satisfied with the ride. Walsh also supplied veterinary evidence to show that the horse had mucus and blood in his trachea post-race and had abrasions on his legs. After hearing from veterinary surgeon Joan Taylor, the Committee found that the veterinary evidence was irrelevant.

Finding that McCurtin’s performance was “substandard”, the Committee “strongly advised him to make greater effort in the future.”