Veteran jockey Niall McCullagh was given a 14-day suspension after appearing to mistake the winning post on day two of the Harvest Festival at Listowel.

McCullagh was partnering Gerard O’Leary’s 10/1 shot Iamimmaculate in the Liam and Joan Healy Memorial Handicap, with the pair locked in a final-furlong duel with the Pat O’Donnell-trained and Julian Pietropaolo-ridden Dragon Of Malta inside the final furlong.

But McCullagh seemed to stop riding after passing 50-yard marker and Iamimmaculate was beaten a head at the line.

Dragon Of Malta won twice at this meeting 12 months ago and is set to be given the chance to emulate that feat, having been declared to run again on Tuesday.

O’Donnell said: “What can you say about this horse? We had tried him over a mile and a quarter as a three-year-old and it was quite obvious he didn’t stay, but that is a long time ago and the track suits him here.

“He didn’t break as sharp as he usually does, but I thought Julian did very well to get his position, without burning too much gas. Once he got the position, I watched it with confidence.

“He is in again and has to come, unless something untoward happens, which I don’t expect, so we’re looking forward to it.”

'Non-trier' ban

There was also a 14-day ban handed out after the opening maiden won by Magna Victoria, trained by Joseph O'Brien.

The stewards enquired into the running and riding of the fifth-placed Sonic Sabiha, ridden by Rebecca Parsons, and trained by David Marnane. Evidence was heard from the rider and the trainer's authorised representative Daniel O'Connell. Parsons stated that her instructions were to try to get her mount, who was keen on her last run, to settle early on and finish in the best possible placing. She stated that she tried to keep her mount as relaxed as possible in the early stages of the race, then got stuck behind a bit of traffic in the home straight so she switched out and then ran tight for room again.

O'Connell confirmed the instructions given and expressed his satisfaction with the ride. He stated that they went hard today and that the priority was to get the filly to settle and finish in her best possible position.

The stewards found Parsons and Marnane in breach of Rule 212(A)(ii) (failing to obtain from the horse timely, real and substantial efforts to achieve the best possible place). Having considered Parsons' clean record in this regard they suspended her for 14 racedays and ordered her to forfeit her riding fee. Having considered David Marnane's clean record in this regard, they fined him €3,000. Furthermore, they suspended Sonic Sabiha for 60 days in accordance with the provisions of Rule 212C.(d).

Two Kings

Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle-winning rider Daniel King was seen to good effect on the Flat aboard Denis Hogan’s Majestic King (7/2) in the Gain The Advantage Series Handicap.

King, who will be reunited with the Willie Mullins-trained Galway Plate hero King Alexander in the Guinness Kerry National on Wednesday, said: “I am lucky that I am light enough to ride at the bigger weights on the Flat and when Denis and the owners asked me to ride, I was looking forward to it.

“We had a nice draw, he broke well and it was simple enough from a long way out.”

Jessica Harrington’s Storm Ready landed strong market support in the Tote, Never Beaten By SP Maiden under Shane Foley.

The previously unraced three-year-old was backed down from 13/2 in the morning into 11-4 favouritism and duly delivered under Shane Foley, seeing off Zelani by a neck.

“He is a nice horse who had a great prep from Jim Ryan, who takes care of John Kirkland’s horses, and will only go on improving,” said Harrington.

“He is probably a horse for next year and I don’t quite know where we’ll go next.”