Racing fans outraged as punter appears to throw beer at losing horse

Racing fans have been left outraged by footage which appears to show a punter throwing beer at a losing horse.

The incident happened when Grand Paradis was about to cross the line in the Happy New Year From Tote.ie Beginners Chase.

On Racing TV footage, the grey heads towards the post at Fairyhouse, when the liquid is thrown in his direction.

A clip shared on social media shows it flying towards the racehorse and jockey Davy Russell.

The empty cup then bounced off the turf during the contest won by 5-6 favourite Jungle Boogie.

Grand Paradis, who started the 2m 5f race as his main rival on the betting odds, finished just over 16 lengths behind Sean O'Keeffe's mount.

Fans of the sport took to social media to condemn the behaviour and shared the clip, which has been viewed over 30,000 times.

"Ban for life," one said.

Another tweeted: "Utterly disgraceful."

While a third added: "Despicable behaviour."

Russell had won the previous race on the card, the feature Grade 3 John & Chich Fowler Memorial EBF Mares Chase on Mount Ida (9-4).

The 2021 Cheltenham Festival heroine stayed on strongly to take the first prize for connections, from favourite Elimay.

Like Grand Paradis, the winner was trained by Gordon Elliott.

At the other meeting in Ireland on New Year's Day, dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo made a successful return to action.

The 1-6 favourite took in his usual warm-up for the March highlight, the Savills New Year's Day Chase.

It was the fourth time he had captured the Grade 3 event, run in front of around 4,000 fans.

“I thought he showed great enthusiasm for it again and, when I gave him a squeeze, he picked up nicely up the straight,” said the winning jockey.

A much bigger crowd witnessed Stormy Ireland help Mullins' to a five-timer across the New Year's Day cards at Cheltenham.

The 4-1 shot was left clear by the fall of Brewin'upastorm at the final flight of the Grade 2 Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle.