SHARK Hanlon says he does not know if he will ever return to training if he still faces a significant suspension following his appeal hearing on Monday.

In early September Hanlon received a 10-month ban over his inappropriate transportation of an equine carcass, which was held to have damaged the reputation and public image of racing.

Five months of the penalty may be suspended if Hanlon is found to have abided by the conditions imposed by the Referrals Committee for the first half of the suspension.

Hanlon asked the Referrals Committee this week if the penalty could be deferred until April 1st, 2025 but this was turned down.

On Monday the trainer’s appeal against the severity of the ban will be heard but he has already entered 30 of his horses for an upcoming sale at Goffs in Doncaster.

Speaking to The Irish Field on Friday, Hanlon maintained that he has been very harshly treated by the authorities, effectively being robbed of his livelihood over the accidental loss of a tarpaulin cover which blew off the trailer which was carrying a dead racehorse. The trailer was hitched to a horsebox clearly branded with the trainer’s name and the incident was filmed and shared on social media.

“I did not set out deliberately to do wrong – it was an accident,” Hanlon said. “The Referrals Committee accepted the rug was on the horse at the start of the journey but that was not mentioned in the report they published.

“I feel very wronged and hurt over it. I haven’t slept well since the hearing and it’s affecting my health. To be honest, I don’t know if I will go back training if they take my licence away.”

Hanlon says he has been boosted by the messages of support he has received from the public. “Listowel, Stratford, everywhere I go people tell me they are on my side. I get letters and phone calls every day about it.”

Several other trainers who have received suspensions in recent times have brought in another licensed trainer to take over their yard for the period of the ban. Asked if he would do this, Hanlon said: “My partner Rachel applied to do the trainers’ course but she was told there were no places available at the moment. I don’t want anyone else around the yard.”

His horses in-training are due to be offered for sale on October 22nd and he will review plans with the owners following Monday’s appeal hearing. His stable star Hewick has not been entered and Hanlon says he has yet to make plans for that horse if he loses his licence.

Among those to have declared their support for Hanlon is owner-breeder Dermot O’Rourke, former owner of Plantation Stud in Newmarket and a former owner with Hanlon.

In a letter sent to the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board and forwarded by O’Rourke to The Irish Field, O’Rourke said: “I have had winners trained for me by Sir Michael Stoute, Sir Henry Cecil and Sir Mark Prescott in the UK. John Oxx trained blacktype winners for me in Ireland. I wish to state that none of them have a better standard of care, attention to detail, integrity, honesty, and love of the sport than John Hanlon.

“Mr Hanlon may be big in stature but is a small trainer who would be disproportionally punished if the suggested suspension is implemented.

“In summary, John Hanlon is an international ambassador for our sport, encompassing his exploits in the King George and the American Grand National. I hope your committee can see fit to suspend the proposed punishment, subject to no reoccurrence for say 18 months.”