THE three jockeys who tested positive for a cocaine metabolite on a single raceday at Galway last month will appear before the Referrals Committee next Thursday.

The jockeys, one professional and two amateurs, could each face a ban for as long as two years, although bans for recreational use, rather than enhancing performance, are usually less severe.

On Wednesday, the Appeals Committee will consider the case of trainer Mick Winters and jockey Barry John Foley, who are contesting penalties imposed by the Cork stewards last Sunday.

Under Rule 212A, which sanctions non-triers, Winters was hit with a €6,000 fine and Foley with a 21-day ban after Churchtown Glen finished seventh in a maiden hurdle.

It is the first time the stewards have invoked part A (i) of updated rule, which carries a larger penalty and states: “Any person involved in the running and/or riding of a horse in a race who deliberately or recklessly causes or permits a horse to run other than on its merits shall be guilty of an offence under this sub-rule.”

ELLIOTT WINS

Four cases were heard by the Appeals Panel, chaired by Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan and including John Powell and Philip McLernon, at the Turf Club on Monday.

Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy successfully appealed the penalties imposed on them under Rule 212A (ii) following the running of Suitor in a maiden hurdle at Down Royal on November 4th.

Suitor finished third in the race, some 18 lengths behind the first two home. Elliott, who was in America at the time of the race, was fined €2,000, Kennedy received a five-day ban and the horse was banned from racing for 42 days.

At the appeal solicitor Kevin Power said that the Appeals Body needed to be satisfied that Suitor would have finished second in order to find that there was a breach of the rule.

The Appeals Body was not satisfied that the requirements for a breach of the rule were established. They found it was not clear that the horse wasn’t ridden to obtain its best possible place.

Also on Monday, jockey Danny Mullins and trainer Liam Casey appealed the punishments they received at Thurles on November 9th over the running and riding of the unplaced Omega Springs.

The pair represented themselves and Casey was successful in overturning his penalty, satisfying the Appeals Panel that he had done everything in his power to ensure the horse was fit and well and could achieve its best possible position.

However, the panel confirmed the five-day ban for Mullins which rules him out of action until next weekend.

Also on Monday, the Appeals Committee disallowed the appeals of David O’Meara, Declan McDonogh and Cheveley Park Stud regarding the stewards decision to reverse placings in the Listed Knockaire Stakes at Leopardstown on October 28th.

O’Meara’s Larchmont Lad passed the post first but took Dermot Weld’s Making Light, ridden by Leigh Roche, off a true line. With the winning margin only a nose, the stewards decided to demote Larchmont Lad and promote Making Light to first place.

Finally, Richard O’Connor lost his appeal against the refusal of the Licensing Committee to grant him a restricted trainer’s licence.