Tarbaan justified odds-on support in the Cahir Maiden at Clonmel last evening when beating Mykon Gold by a comfortable length and a half but the race will be remembered for the Tote returns which produced a dividend of £1 for a place on the winner.
A Tote spokesman explained the reason for the return on the Kevin Prendergast-trained hotpot: "The rules enable us to refund stakes if the payout is greater than the net pool. We were alerted to this scenario after large place bets on Siberian Gale (who was sent off 1 to 4 favourite) in a hurdle race at Fairyhouse the previous evening. "The Tote can also refuse any bet if it believes that it will have a disproportionate effect on the pool." It was rumoured that one punter placed a £5,000 place bet on Tarbaan.
Ramdath Harricharan (30) partnered his first Irish winner aboard Blue Music in the Kilsheelan Handicap. The Keen gelding made virtually all and gamely held the challenge of Eloquent Way by a length and a half.
Winning trainer Declan Gillespie said: "Ramdath joined me 13 months ago and has ridden seven winners in Trinidad."
Kilcullen handler John Hayden opened his account for the season when the Jamie Spencer-ridden Miss Chiquita got the better of a final furlong duel with Mysterious Miss by half a length in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Claiming Race.
