Horseracing: Kinane back on Galileo

Michael Kinane will ride Galileo in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes after winning an injunction in the Dublin High Court this afternoon.

Kinane’s solicitor Andrew Coonan made representations to the High Court after the jockey lost his appeal at the Irish Turf Club earlier today against a two-day ban that would have ruled him out of tomorrow’s Ascot showpiece.

The news was warmly received at Ballydoyle.

‘‘It’s great that Mick rides the horse now,’’ said trainer Aidan O’Brien.

The appeal was adjourned from Thursday following an afternoon of legal arguments and counter-arguments and the absence of two witnesses, jockeys Niall McCullagh and Declan McDonogh.

Kinane picked up the suspension at Leopardstown last week for careless riding on Sophisticat. It was his first offence for 18 months.

The case is reminiscent of Christy Roche’s battle with the Turf Club in 1992.

He had a 15-day ban for allegedly striking another rider with his whip in a race at Naas deferred so that he could partner St Jovite in the Irish Derby.

After he lost his appeal he had a long-running battle with the Turf Club in Dublin’s High Court.

They granted an interim injunction temporarily lifting the ban, but Roche eventually lost his case and missed winning the King George on St Jovite with Stephen Craine deputising.