Gibbons banned

THE Galway-born jockey Graham Gibbons has been banned for two and a half years by the British Horseracing Authority’s disciplinary panel. He tested positive for cocaine and attempted to swap his urine sample following a meeting at Kempton last December. Gibbons stood himself down once the offence was detected.

Successful appeal for Nicola Currie

NICOLA Currie, an apprentice with trainer Richard Hughes, has successfully appealed against a 10-day ban imposed on her by the Lingfield stewards last month. Currie was deemed to have failed to take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure her horse Tojosimbre ran on its merits when finishing fourth. The Appeals Panel found she was guilty of no more than “a momentary misjudgement” and quashed the penalty.

McConville ban reciprocated here

The Turf Club has confirmed that the three-year disqualifications imposed on trainer Stephen McConville and his son Michael by the British Horseracing Authority last month have been reciprocated in Ireland. The McConvilles were banned following a failed drug test from their horse An Seanachai Cliste at Cheltenham this year.

The prolific point-to-point winner was withdrawn from the Foxhunter Chase by order of the stewards on suspicion that he had been administered a prohibited substance. The horse subsequently tested positive for cobalt. The McConvilles did not contest the finding and attributed the presence of cobalt to their use of Hemo 15, a veterinary product which is not licensed in the Republic of Ireland.Having heard that no appeal had been lodged against the sanction imposed by the BHA, the Referrals Committee agreed to the reciprocation of the penalties.

The McConvilles remain disqualified until September 2020 and cannot particiapate in racing under rules or point-to-point racing during that time.

Cooper linked to Tizzard

BRYAN Cooper could be riding for trainer Colin Tizzard this season. The talented jockey is relaunching his career in Ireland and Britain after losing his position as retained rider for Gigginstown House Stud. While remaining based in Ireland, he has already agreed to ride for British owner Andrew Brooks and this week Tizzard revealed that Cooper was schooling horses for him. The trainer said: “He might ride a few for us, who knows. Things will develop in the next few weeks and we’ll see what happens.”

Velka Pardubicka

The Velka Pardubicka in the Czech Republic – one of the world’s most famous horse races – takes place on Sunday. A field of 20 will take in 31 obstacles over a shade over four and a quarter miles in this thrilling cross-country race, which will be shown on Racing UK at 3.40pm.

French amend interference rules

THE French racing authorities are amending their rules on interference in races to bring them into line with the existing rules in Ireland, Britain and many other racing jurisdictions.

Under the new rule, a horse would only be demoted if the interference was deemed to have prevented a rival horse from finishing in front of it whereas, at the moment in France, a horse can be demoted if it is deemed to have deprived another horse of a better placing or prize money.

However, at the request of the French representatives, dangerous riding can still cause the demotion or disqualification of the horse. The new rule is not expected to come into effect in France until the new year.

Qatar Racing moves horses

QATAR Racing has moved a couple of horses from Michael O’Callaghan’s yard. Group 3 winner Blue De Vega, third in the Irish 2000 Guineas last year, joins Robert Cowell and Group 3-placed Holy Cat made her debut for Johnny Murtagh last night. Sheikh Fahad’s Pearl Bloodstock remains an owner in the yard.

Pension talk

THE final Stable Employees Pension Scheme roadshow takes place on Monday at 6.30pm in the Ballykisteen Golf Hotel, Co Tipperary. Bernard Caldwell of the Irish Stable Staff Association described attendances at the first four presentations as “a little disappointing” and has encouraged stable staff to find out if they are eligible for the scheme.

Stableyard ban

A part-time employee of trainer Tom Taaffe has been disciplined by the Turf Club over his actions when loading a horse at Killarney in May. Vincent O’Brien pleaded guilty to acting in a manner prejudicail to the integrity of racing and is not allowed enter a racecourse stableyard for seven days.