CONFUSION reigned at Killarney on Thursday when the Qualified Riders’ Race, won by Stars Over The Sea for Henry de Bromhead and ridden by David Roche in the colours of Roger Brookhouse, was sensationally declared void by the stewards, who felt that correct starting procedures were not followed.

Stars Over The Sea is a horse who has his quirks and needs to be led in at the start, but while starter Joe Banahan was happy to let the field go when the second favourite was led up on the outside of the other runners, the stewards felt that he gained an advantage in arriving at the starting point already close to a canter, handing him a clear lead by the time his rivals had jumped away.