Horseracing: Kinane faces agonising wait

Michael Kinane faces an agonising wait this morning to know whether he will be able to ride the odds-on Galileo in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

Kinane's appeal against a two-day careless riding ban was adjourned last night following an initial hearing that lasted an hour and three-quarters.

"The hearing is adjourned to 10am in the morning following legal submissions and the unavailability of two witnesses," said Kinane's solicitor Andrew Coonan, secretary of the Jockeys' Association.

The hearing concentrated on the legal submissions from both sides, Kinane being represented by Coonan and the Turf Club by their vastly-experienced solicitor Brian Price.

A senior counsel, John McBratney, also represented the Turf Club, while Philip O'Connor was the legal assessor available to both sides.

The witnesses who were not present for this initial hearing were two of Kinane's weighing-room colleagues Niall McCullagh and Declan McDonogh, while the three members of the Appeal and Referrals Committee on duty were Michael Hickey (in the chair), Cahir O'Sullivan and Frank Hardy.