Loughran handed 14-day suspension

Roger Loughran has been banned for 14 days after celebrating victory before the line in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase and then finishing third.

Loughran, riding Central House, thought he had passed the winning post halfway up the run-in at Leopardstown and stood up in the irons and punched the air.

And he was still celebrating as Hi Cloy passed him to win ahead of Fota Island.

Yet trainer Dessie Hughes has defended the first-year professional and insists he will continue to use him.

"He'd given him a super ride up to that point. It's human error - he just thought he was at the winning post," Hughes said.

"It's up to Roger now to have the strength to keep going the way he was going and there'll be no problem. He's a good rider - these things happen."

Dual Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Moscow Flyer was second for most of the race but faded in the closing stages.

Jessica Harrington's charge made a slight mistake early on and jockey Barry Geraghty said that another less-than-perfect jump at the last had put paid to his chances.

"Maybe his age has caught up with him but I think that he's definitely better than he showed today," said Geraghty.

"I don't think he's gone yet and hopefully we'll get him right for Cheltenham and make him hard to beat there."

Hi Cloy's trainer Michael Hourigan felt his horse might have won even if Central House had been pushed hard to the line.

"Hi Cloy was the only horse staying. He was fifth jumping the last and he made up a lot of ground."

14-1 shot Black Apalachi stayed on well to win the Paddy Power Handicap Chase in only his fourth run over fences.

With John Cullen on board, Black Apalachi finished a length ahead of Camden Tanner while Ross River took third.

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Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase
1. Hi Cloy (Andrew J McNamara) 8-1
2. Fota Island (AP McCoy) 9-1
3. Central House 11-4
4. Moscow Flyer 8-11 Fav
5 ran

Paddy Power Handicap Chase
1. Black Apalachi (J L Cullen) 25-1
2. Camden Tanner (RM Moran) 20-1
3. Ross River (DN Russell) 8-1
4. Adarma (AP McCoy) 12-1
26 ran