Trainer Brian McMahon has fine over running-and-riding breach halved on appeal

Trainer Brian McMahon and jockey Eoin Mahon's appeal against a running-and-riding breach at Thurles in November has resulted in a reduction in the initial penalties handed out by the IHRB referrals committee.

McMahon had been hit with a €6,000 fine after falling foul of rule 212 following the performance of 150-1 shot Longhouse Force, who finished sixth in a 2m maiden hurdle.

Mahon was suspended for 21 days, while the horse received a 90-day ban.

Following an appeal heard on January 11, McMahon has seen his fine halved to €3,000, Longhouse Force's ban reduced to 42 days and Mahon's riding suspension cut to 12 days.

Brian McMahon and Eoin Mahon (left and centre): had penalties reduced on appealCredit: Caroline Norris

Barry Geraghty was among those to provide evidence at the appeal, while a written statement was presented from a rider who had ridden in the race, stating he heard the horse make a "loud respiratory noise when coming past me" in the closing stages.

The appeals body determined Longhouse Force was not "seen to have been the subject of a genuine attempt to obtain from the horse, timely, real and substantial efforts to obtain the best possible place".

This led to a breach of rule 212A(ii), but the appeals body did not find that the jockey and trainer deliberately or recklessly caused or permitted the horse to run other than on its merits.

Fahey unsuccessful in appeal against sanction

Trainer Mark Fahey's appeal against a separate running-and-riding breach at Limerick in November proved unsuccessful, with a €6,000 fine upheld along with a 90-ban for his runner Strong Roots.

Jockey Gavin Brouder had previously been handed a suspension of 21 days at the initial referral on November 29 and did not appeal his sanction.

Fahey appealed against the decision on the basis he had at all times instructed the rider to win or obtain the best possible place, citing his belief that this instruction was not or could not be carried out.

He was dissatisfied and disappointed with the ride, but stated he was not completely aware of the detail of Brouder's effort until he got home and saw the replay, as there was no large screen where he watched the race in the grandstand and he had no binoculars with him.

Fahey stated he was "disgusted" with what he saw on the replay and considered the performance a "very poor, ill-fated ride by Gavin", but said the runner in question "was not deliberately stopped".

Mark Fahey: €6,000 fine over running-and-riding breach upheldCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Brouder conceded he could have been harder on the 85-40 favourite and said he did "slap and squeeze her", but his view was that "she was a nine-year-old mare and should not need it, further it was not his style to go straight for the stick".

The appeals body found "inconsistencies in Fahey's account of the race between the referrals hearing and the appeal hearing". They dismissed the appeal, believing "a running and riding situation arose in contravention of rule 212A (i) and (ii)".

It was also revealed on Wednesday that trainer Richard Curran was fined €300 over his medicines register not being kept up to date when IHRB officials carried out a stable inspection in January 2020.

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