'Times aren't that important over jumps' - Willie Mullins defends Tramore

Willie Mullins has defended Tramore and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board over the lack of transparency surrounding the publication of race distances, brought into sharp focus this week with the revelation that the Savills Chase that Al Boum Photo won on New Year’s Day was run over a longer distance than advertised.

The champion trainer, who is also a director at Tramore, revealed he places little emphasis on times for jump racing and believes the clerk of the course Paddy Graffin and racecourse manager Owen Byrne did “what was practical and right on the day.”

Following heavy criticism from At The Races' sectional times specialist Simon Rowlands, who estimated Al Boum Photo covered 287 yards longer than the stated 2m5f and 100 yards, Byrne outlined why the race was run over what he indicated was an excess of 80 metres (87 yards).