O’Neill decides not to appeal over record fine
The Jackdaws Castle trainer was hit with a fine of £3,400 the biggest ever meted out by racecourse stewards at Fakenham over the running and riding of 3-1 favourite Madalyar in the Graves Of Briston Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.
The market leader, ridden by Ron Flavin, ran on to finish fifth, beaten around 15 lengths by the winner Almnadia, after being held up and some racegoers reacted angrily to Madalyar's performance knocking on the stewards' room door to complain.
Following the subsequent inquiry O'Neill was fined, conditional jockey Flavin banned for 21 days and Madalyar suspended from running for 40 days.
At Haydock O'Neill was fined £800 and jockey Liam Cooper was suspended for five days (December 26, 27, 28, 30 and 31) over the running and riding of Gala Performance, who finished fifth, beaten about seven and a half lengths in the Saint Ciel Novices' Hurdle.
Gala Performance was also banned from running for 30 days December 17 to January 15 inclusive the stewards having decided that the gelding had been tenderly ridden throughout.
They found that O'Neill and Cooper had breached the Rules of Racing governing schooling in public.
Cooper's ban rules the jockey out of the plum ride on Intersky Falcon in the Pertemps Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park on St Stephen's Day.
The Fakenham stewards held an inquiry into Madalyar's running as the gelding appeared to have been "tenderly ridden throughout despite making significant late progess".
They interviewed Flavin and O'Neill's representative Helen Donnelly.
Flavin explained that Madalyar is keen in his races and his instructions were to hold the gelding up and to finish as close as he could.
He said that his mount was running well, but that approaching the final circuit he became concerned regarding the horse's well-being. He added that being anxious to finish the race, he felt it prudent to ride the horse sympathetically to the line.
Flavin also said that Madalayar only jumped adequately and slightly gurgled on pulling up.
Donnelly confirmed the instructions and reported that she was satisfied with the rider's efforts. She added that Madalayar appeared to pull up slightly feelingly.
The officials heard evidence from the veterinary officer who reported that the gelding was clinically sound and showed no ill effects from the race.
They found O'Neill to be in breach of Rule 155 (ii), which states that it is the duty of a trainer to ensure that adequate instructions are given to a jockey to make sure a horse runs on its merits, and imposed the fine. The stewards found Flavin guilty of breaking Rule 157 in that he failed to ask his mount for sufficient effort.
Flavin's ban takes effect on December 26 to 28, 30 and 31, January 1 to 4, 6 to 11 and 13 to 18.
Madalyar's suspension starts today.
