CHARLES Byrnes played a major role at Downpatrick’s Monday meeting, not only because the Co Limerick trainer saddled three winners on the card but also because he withdrew his runner in another race which saw a huge gamble landed.

Anyway, trained by Ken Budds, was backed from a morning price of 28/1 to even money before he easily won a handicap hurdle on the card. The winner races in the name of the trainer’s father but was originally bought as a store horse by Charles Byrnes.

The raceday stewards enquired into the withdrawal of the Byrnes-trainer Karloss from that race and the trainer told them the horse “slipped in the trailer and sweated up on route to today's fixture” so Byrnes felt it was in his best interest to be withdrawn.

He said that the owners of Karloss were traveling behind him so they brought Karloss back to his yard and that is why he did not arrive at the races with his other runners.

The stewards referred the matter on to a senior racing official for further investigation.

Budds was also called before the stewards and asked to explain the apparent improvement in form of Anyway.

Senior jumps handicapper Andrew Shaw stated that today's winning performance marked a significant improvement on Anyway's previous form, including his last run when beaten 46 lengths in Punchestown.

Budds stated that he gave Anyway a break after his last run and that he is a lazy horse who benefited from the application of cheekpieces today.

On further questioning he stated that he has the horse more than eight months, that he is owned by his father Pat Budds and that they bought the horse from Charles Byrnes.

The stewards also referred this matter on to headquarters for further investigation.

Although there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Byrnes, or any evidence that he is involved with the training of Anyway, the incident sparked memories of Gay Future who landed a legendary gamble at Cartmel on this very day in 1974.

In that case, Gay Future was coupled in bets with two stable companions who never actually travelled to the track.

In a subsequent court case the punters behind the gamble were denied their payout as the judge held that there was a deliberate attempt to deceive.