Heffernan appeals Ascot suspension

SEAMUS Heffernan will have his appeal heard today against a 14-day ban handed to him by the Ascot stewards following a controversial race for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

The disciplinary panel of the British Horseracing Regulatory Authority will look into the decision which found Heffernan, riding the unplaced Ivan Denisovich, guilty of improper riding in the light of Instruction H1 headed “Pacemakers (Team Tactics)”.

The Ascot stewards ruled that Heffernan had forced Frankie Dettori out wide on Librettist on the home turn in the Group One contest won by Ivan Denisovich’s stablemate George Washington on September 23.