Handicapping appeal disallowed

AN appeal by trainer Joseph O’Brien to have the flat handicap mark of Flying Scotsman reduced by 2lb was disallowed by the Appeals Body.

Like most flat handicap horses in training, Flying Scotsman was dropped 2lb on August 25th as part of the annual mid-season ratings adjustment.

The horse ran at Roscommon on August 30th off the revised mark of 83 and O’Brien lodged the appeal when it appeared that the horse’s old handicap mark was restored to 85.

The trainer sought a refund of a €1,000 fee paid to enter the horse for a premier handicap, the entry having been made during the five-hour window when the horse’s mark was 83.

IHRB senior flat handicapper Garry O’Gorman told the Appeals Body that Flying Scotsman was ineligible for the 2lb drop as he had not raced on the flat in 2021 up to that date. The error was spotted within five hours, during which time the horse was entered for the Curragh premier handicap and the weights for the Roscommon race were published.

In reply to O’Brien’s point that the horse had been uncompetitive in the Roscommon race off 83, O’Gorman said that a number of factors about the Roscommon race, such as the distance, ground conditions and the absence of cheekpieces being applied, meant that the handicapping team felt it was “inappropriate at this juncture to drop his rating”.

Murphy over the limit

OISIN Murphy missed his rides at Newmarket ysterday after failing a racecourse breathalyser test.

The dual champion jockey had been due to have five mounts at Headquarters.

But in a post on his Twitter account, Murphy said: “I was requested to take a breath test at Newmarket today. I blew under the drink drive limit but over the riding limit.

“I’m sorry to all the people I’ve let down today. I take full responsibility. I will be riding tomorrow.”

Six-month

ban reduced

DANNY Dunne has had his six-month disqualification reduced to one month, with five suspended for two years. Dunne is an authorised representative and partner of trainer Katy Brown and was given a six-month ban for verbally abusing officials at Cork in April. Dunne appeared before the Appeals Body on September 22nd and told them the impact the sanctions would have on him. After considering all the circumstances, the Appeals Body reduced the ban to one month and allowed him to continue living at the yard during that time.

Fewer foals in USA

THE number of live thoroughbred foals registered in the USA this year is down 3.3% on last year. The Jockey Club has registered 19,021 live foals this year, down from 19,677 for 2020. The number of thoroughbred stallions in the USA declined 6.8% while the number of mares bred declined 4.8%.

Cork vacancy

CORK Racecourse is seeking a racing operations manager who will report into track general manager Andrew Hogan. Full details of the vacancy are on page 111.

Jockey badly injured

BRITISH jump jockey Matt Griffiths remains in a critical but stable condition following a car crash in Devon last Sunday when left one man dead. Griffiths (31) is in Southmead Hospital in Bristol with a serious head injury. He is best known as the rider of last season’s Grade 1 chase winner Dashel Drasher.

number of live thoroughbred foals registered in the USA this year is down 3.3% on last year. The Jockey Club has registered 19,021 live foals this year, down from 19,677 for 2020. The number of thoroughbred stallions in the USA declined 6.8% while the number of mares bred declined 4.8%.