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.

Following the inquiry at the track a war of words erupted between Dettori and winning trainer Aidan O’Brien.

This was the first time this particular rule had been invoked since it was brought in as a result of concern about team tactics being used during the Shergar Cup in 2003.

Meanwhile, jockey Timmy Murphy and trainer Peter Monteith also go before the disciplinary panel of the Horseracing Regulatory Authority today in a bid to overturn punishments handed out over the running and riding of Go Commercial.

The Perth stewards suspended Murphy for 14 days, fined Monteith £3,000 and banned the horse from running for 40 days following the Royal Bank of Scotland Maiden Hurdle on 20 September 2006.

Go Commercial, carrying the colours of well-known owner David Johnson, was beaten about 50 lengths in eighth place behind the winner, Millennium Hall.