JOCKEY Chris Timmons will be free to resume race riding from next Friday, June 14th, following an application made by him to the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board. The referral hearing suspended the remaining part of his four-year ban for testing positive for cocaine at Ballinrobe in May, 2018.

When the ban was imposed last year the Referrals Committee of Judge Tony Hunt, Philip Caffrey and Laurence McFerran said that they would consider an application from the jockey for his licence to be reinstated after he had served a 12 month suspension, provided he cooperated fully with any requests made by the Senior IHRB medical officer and engaged positively with a recommended programme.

At the time the rider, whose biggest success came in the Porterstown Handicap Chase aboard Forever Gold at Fairyhouse in 2016, accepted the findings and said he regretted his actions. He also expressed his wish to return to race-riding. Should the rider reoffend he will serve the remainder of his three-year ban and any additional time given. Judge Tony Hunt also sat on this week’s panel.

Disqualifications

Three trainers had fines of €1,000 each waived, though their three winners were all disqualified.

Martin Brassil’s Vent De La Cote was stood down following his win in a handicap hurdle at Listowel in September. The Referrals Committee heard that the horse had an elevated testosterone finding, and this was not found to be the result of any substance being given.

James Dullea’s Just Get Cracking was disqualified following his win in a handicap hurdle at Limerick in late November.

The positive finding was determined to be the consequence of cross-contamination and the gelding has since won a handicap chase at Clonmel.

A positive finding of cobalt in the sample taken from Mick The Jiver after his win in a handicap chase at Fairyhouse in mid-December was found to have been from using a saltlick which trainer Eoghan O’Grady stopped using that same month following publicity about its properties.

London Sale entries added

THREE Irish and two British-trained three-year-old winners were announced yesterday afternoon for the Goffs London Sale. The home-bred Dream Ahead filly Forever In Dreams, trained by Aidan Fogarty and consigned by Con Marnane’s Bansha House, recently won the Listed Cecil Frail Stakes at Haydock, and this three-time winner in just five starts will be offered with an entry in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup.

In the same ownership and joining her will be On A Session and this smart son of Noble Mission was a dual winner at two in France and looks to have improved again based on his recent win at Listowel.

The Niarchos-bred Building Bridges, rated 88 by Timeform, races in the colours of Jules Cooper and is trained by Jessica Harrington. The three-year-old son of New Approach impressed when winning his maiden at Navan recently, and he is out of a winning Monsun half-sister to Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Domedriver.

The Roger Teal-trained Oxted, a son of Mayson, finished a close second in the Listed Carnarvon Stakes at Newbury to leading Group 1 Commonwealth Cup contender Khaadem on just his third start. The Salisbury three-year-old maiden winner is being aimed at the Jersey Stakes.

The Richard Fahey-trained War Tiger will also be offered at the sale. Owned by Rosin Henry, this 90-rated son of War Front and the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Quarter Moon is a two-time winner this year and has an intended target of the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot.

New Tattersalls appointment

TATTERSALLS has appointed Matt Prior as head of Tattersalls Ascot and Cheltenham Sales, taking charge of the day-to-day operation with immediate effect. Prior, aged 34, will work closely with Richard Pugh.