Watch controversial moment jockey falls from horse after last hurdle as chiefs launch probe into race amid punter fury

AN investigation has been launched into a jockey's fall off a leading horse - as footage of the 'outrageous' Wexford finish spread like wildfire online.

Philip Byrnes was described on Racing TV as having a 'soft' unseat from Redwood Queen in the 2m1f hurdle race at the Irish track.

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The horse, who is trained by his dad, Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot-winning handler Charles, and owned by his brother Cathal, opened at 7-2 and had been smashed into as short as 13-8.

But she was an 'alarming drifter' to 7-1 before being sent off 13-2.

Gordon Elliott's Beacon Edge was 1-3 favourite but looked beaten as Byrnes cruised to the last two lengths clear on Redwood Queen.

Punters thought victory was in the bag as the eight-year-old mare hit 1.14 on the Betfair Exchange.

And she looked to take off straight and true at the last only for Byrnes - who had appeared to glance at the big screen approaching the final jump - to exit the side door just before she landed safely on the other side.

That left Elliott's charge with an uncontested lead as he sauntered home by 22 lengths to scoop the £5,000 first-place prize.

There was disbelief among punters as the raceday stewards initially deemed the incident did not warrant any further action.

But, amid mounting fury online, an Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board spokesperson confirmed on Thursday morning: "We note the position of the raceday stewards following their review of the incident.

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"We can now confirm the matter is down for review by an IHRB senior racing official."

The stewards' report issued after the race read: "The raceday stewards reviewed the unseating of Philip Byrnes, rider of Redwood Queen, at the last hurdle when leading.

"Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the matter, the raceday stewards took no further action."

But punters thought Byrnes could have done more to stay in the saddle, with one joking: "I had 20 odd pints, 10 bottles of bud and a full jaeger train and stayed on the buckin bronco in Beni longer than that!"

Racing TV and ITV Racing presenter Rishi Persad was hosting coverage of the race alongside former jockey George Baker.

The latter did his best to describe what he had seen.

Classic-winning rider Baker said: "It is strange. When you watch head-on I think you can see the horse has jumped out of his hands and almost hits him on the backside.

"That means his feet just come out of the stirrups.

"It's a really soft unseat, isn't it?

"And he'll be absolutely devastated that he's come off the horse at that stage of the race."

While Persad added: "It's not our job to put two and two together and make a number, but the horse drifted alarmingly, that's a soft unseat - you can understand why people are going to be cynical about it."

This is not the first time Byrnes has come under investigation by authorities.

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In 2021 he was banned for six months after one of his horses - who had been backed 'extraordinary' amounts to lose - was 'nobbled' with a sedative by an unidentified third party and pulled up.

Byrnes tried and failed in his appeal against the suspension, with the Appeals Body saying he had been 'seriously negligent' in his dereliction of duty to Viking Hoard, the horse at the centre of the case.

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