Has he actually said that to anybody but the stewards ? If he said it to them why wasn't it in THEIR statement ?

If, as has been suggested Townend heard a shout to miss the fence surely the stewards and Townend would want to investigate this. Could it have been a jockey behind him who Townend doesn't want to get in trouble? Think a jockey missed a fence out here a few years ago due to another jockey shouting to him to go round it. Maybe a "professional foul" in horse racing if it comes off.

If it is the case that he recognized the voice I'm sure he'll get his 'revenge' at some stage on the track. The working theory last night was that it was a spectator at the hedge, who is connected to another stable. Pure conjecture at this stage of course.

so all i need to do is lay whatever jumps the second last in front and then get my mate who's down at the last to shout at the jockey to go round it .... ?

Further to the enquiry into an incident approaching the last fence involving Al Boum Photo (FR), ridden by Paul Townend and Finian’s Oscar, ridden by R.M. Power, the following is a summary of the evidence given by both riders.  The summary will be appended to the enquiry report.

In his evidence, R.M. Power outlined what occurred. He said that he was coming to win his race before the last and was carried out. He described the incident as unfortunate and said he had no idea why it happened. He said he was not aware of any reason which would indicate that the fence was being bypassed.

In his evidence, Paul Townend said that he was riding with his head down between the last two fences and heard roaring on his left which caught his attention. He thought he had to bypass the fence but didn’t know which side to bypass on. He panicked and commenced his move to bypass the fence on the right side but then realised there was nothing on the fence to indicate a bypass was needed and tried to correct his actions but it was too late. He accepted in hindsight that there were no bypass procedures in place. He said he made a genuine mistake and apologised for what occurred.

The statement says: 'In his evidence, Paul Townend said that he was riding with his head down between the last two fences and head roaring on his left which caught his attention.
"He thought he had to bypass the fence but didn't know which side to bypass on. He panicked and commenced his move to bypass the fence on the right side but then realised there was nothing on the fence to indicate a bypass was needed and tried to correct his actions but it was too late.
"He accepted in hindsight that there were no bypass procedures in place. He said he made a genuine mistake and apologised for what occurred."
Townend has also apologised to fans in a statement released to the Racing Post.
"I thought I head a shout and that the last fence was being bypassed. It was a split-second reaction. I wish to apologise to connections and punters. I'd like to leave this

Hearing the shouting on his left indicates then that it was the spectator(s) standing at the hedge it seems.

It's all very weird. I honestly can't see it as being bnt but you have to wonder if Townend is really up to the job. It all sounds both confused and bizarre.

heard 'roaring' from his left. 

so the only thing on his left was one guy with a bobble hat next to the hedge (who later came onto the track to try and collect the riderless Monalee) and another guy standing next to him on the fence.  after hat man comes back fence guy can be seen pointing at Townend and they appear to be having a heated debate about something - bit of finger pointing from fence man to hat man before fence man walks away ....

that's automatic speak in a stewards ...

I'd repeat what I said earlier, it doesn't matter if he thought he heard a 'shout', I'm pretty sure that's not the specified method of telling jocks to go round a jump!

Willy will have ear plugs in Paul today so he wont hear any shouting.

Which one are you calling hat man - fence man? Hulk

So can we take it they have now changed the rules for ommitting fences then: 'Jockeys, if you here some geezer yelling at the trackside then please omit the next fence...'

Fair play to the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board for not letting it drag on any further than it already has and the conspiracy theories to grow ever louder - which they would've done. It's happened, the explanation makes sense and lessons have been learned. We move on.

If I was riding that race in that exact position, not exactly sure how I'd tell difference between a 'GO ON!' and a 'GO ROUND' that's for sure

It was either that or a very bad suicide attempt.

The two guys standing at the gate are key witnesses and must be easily identifiable and should be interrogated as to what they heard.

That would be a valid excuse for someone completely untrained as a jockey bob - not the case here.