Philip Byrnes has been banned for 21 days after his ride aboard Marian Avenue at Limerick on Thursday. The jockey took out one of his main rivals entering the home straight in division two of the 2m4f handicap hurdle at the track. He also badly impeded another who went on to finish second. Unsurprisingly, the winner, trained by his father Charles, was disqualified after the winning post. Runner-up Qaasid was awarded the race.
Marian Avenue had been a well-backed favourite for the race. The six-year-old had improved to be a neck second on his most recent start and looked to back up that impression up 5lb in the handicap. However, he faced some significant dangers before Byrnes pushed his rivals wide. One of those, Friar Hogan, was carried out at the second last, unable to jump the flight. Qaasid remained in the race, ultimately being handed the 6.20pm contest by the stewards.
The disqualification came exactly one year to the day since another controversial incident involving Byrnes. His unseat from Redwood Queen at Wexford on May 28th 2025 was he subject of much criticism. He was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing after losing the partnership when clear at the final flight. Redwood Queen has since changed hands to be trained by Cian Collins.
Byrnes now faces 21 days on the sidelines due to his ban.
Byrnes’ actions “below that of a competent and careful rider” say stewards
A stewards’ enquiry was called immediately after the race’s conclusion. This will likely have been one of the easier decisions the stewards at Limerick have had to make regarding any action.
Their report delivered a damning verdict of Byrnes ride. It reads, as per the Racing Post: “Having considered his clean record under Rule 214, the raceday stewards suspended Philip Byrnes for 21 racedays and ordered that he forfeit his riding fee.
“The stewards were satisfied that Byrnes failed to correct his mount at a point in the race that was in close proximity to the hurdle and as such rode in a way which was far below that of a competent and careful rider, and where it would be obvious to such a competent and careful rider that riding in that way was likely to endanger the safety of another horse or rider.”
Marian Avenue is free to be entered again in the meantime, however.