The cruel nature of racing was highlighted at Clonmel last night when Michael Grassick's San Sebastian was unfortunate to achieve the unique double of losing a race in the stewards room for the second successive time this season .

Sent off the 7 to 4 favourite to compensate connections for last month's Cork disqualification, the four-time winner last term hung in to his right just inside the furlong pole thus hampering Black Queen. The latter rallied bravely resulting in a fast diminishing neck separating the pair at the line.

Following a lengthy investigation the stewards reversed the placings prompting John Kiely, trainer of last month's two mile maiden course winner, to say, "It's no way to win a race and she will go out to grass now." Micko's Dream, a course winner of a bumper in February before opening his account over timber at Cork last month, was greeted back to the winners enclosure by a large contingent, comprising mainly of the 23 member Sport Racing Club made up of prison officers spread all over the country.