TOUGH apprentice Eddie W. M. Lai and his trainer Gary Ng Ting-keung must face a reconvened Stewards' inquiry into the running and riding of Castlepeaktreasure at Wednesday night's Sha Tin dirt meeting. Lai appeared to be easy on the gelding in the closing stages and he and his master must explain further the running and riding tactics prior to tomorrow night's meeting. Wednesday night's race-meeting Stewards have already heard evidence from the jockey, trainer and the senior vet on duty and took the trouble to send Castlepeaktreasure for a thorough veterinary examination afterwards. Castlepeaktreasure, a 9.7-1 chance in the race won by favourite Amazing Grace, raced up near the pace set by Wind Traveller. But Lai looked far from his normal vigorous self when it came to the final 200 metres and his mount eventually finished 51/4 lengths seventh of the 12 runners. The race-meeting Stewards will seek to establish whether there was a good reason behind this apparent tender riding. Meanwhile, brilliant English rider Darryll Holland is confident he will be fit to ride at tomorrow night's meeting despite being forced to give up his rides after partnering Lickety Split into second behind Sweet Win on Wednesday night. Holland wrenched muscles in his back and was in a great deal of pain after the ride on the grey who pulled hard for most of the way just in behind the race leaders. The top English rider was forced to miss trackwork and trainer Geoff Lane rang him from the track early yesterday morning before declaring him to ride five horses for the stable at tomorrow night's fixture on the dirt track. Holland said yesterday: 'I'm seeing the physio for more treatment and very confident of being fully fit.' There wasn't just a surprise declaration among the jockeys in the shape of Holland, there was also a surprise declaration among the horses for tomorrow night. The Neville Begg-trained Gainsborough's Boy is due to run in the Class Three second event handicap despite being immediately dismounted and unsaddled by stable jockey Greg Childs after working down the back straight yesterday morning. Childs explained: 'He jumped out and went excellently on the grass until we hit the turn. 'Then he pulled up in a matter of strides and wouldn't put his back leg on the ground. My first thoughts were that he had broken down.'
