GALWAY trainer Paul Gilligan is awaiting news of his appeal against a British Horseracing Authority ban but is free to saddle runners in Ireland and Britain in the meantime.

At a hearing in March Gilligan was given a six-month ban for racing Dubawi Phantom in Britain having known the horse had participated in ‘flapping’ races in Ireland.

However the legality of that finding has been thrown into doubt as the hearing was chaired by solicitor Matthew Lohn, who had in the past provided commercial services to the prosecutor, the BHA.

Lohn also chaired the recent case which saw trainer John Best given a four-year ban for his part in a conspiracy to prevent a number of horses from running on their merits. Best appealed the decision on the grounds of Lohn’s possible bias and the BHA has decided not to contest that allegation. Gilligan said: “I have paid the deposit for my appeal and stay of penalty but have heard nothing more.”