Behan’s three-year ban reciprocated by Turf Club
Behan was handed the disqualification – lasting from October 6, 2010 to, October 5, 2013 – as a result of an inquiry into the running and riding of Casela Park in the Register@sportspool.co.uk Handicap at Newcastle on August 4, 2010.
The matter had been referred to the referrals committee by Turf Club chief executive Denis Egan, who said that Behan had been informed of the hearing both by phone and in writing and he had confirmed that he would attend.
The committee decided it was appropriate for the hearing to go ahead as the panel was satisfied Behan had been notified and that he had not indicated that he would not be attending nor had he sought an adjournment.
The committee, who noted Behan had not appealed the BHA’s decision, decided that the penalty should be reciprocated in full.
The Turf Club are to allow Casela Park’s trainer Eamon Tyrrell to make further submissions before ruling on BHA’s application to reciprocate his three-year ban.
Meanwhile Richard Hughes is leaving any possible next step to his legal team after the British Horseracing Authority published the reasons for rubberstamping the 50-day ban he was given in India.
He was suspended in February for “not following the trainer’s specific instructions and thereby not allowing his mount Jacqueline Smile to run on its merits”.
He turned to the BHA after failing to have the ban overturned in India, but was unsuccessful last week in his application not to reciprocate the suspension.
The Royal Western Indian Turf Club stewards punished Hughes for his ride at Mahalaxmi racecourse on February 16, having deemed the jockey had not ridden to the instructions of trainer H J Antia.
Hughes’s arguments, detailed in a BHA statement, concerned his denial of legal representation in the stewards’ inquiry in India, the absence of Antia from an appeal hearing, the emphasis of the stewards on the trainer’s riding instructions and the disproportionate penalty handed out.
A similar breach in this country attracts a ban of seven to 21 days, with an entry point of 10 days.
The Irishman will not be able to compete in Britain until April 30, when the Mumbai season has ended, and that is a major blow in his bid to be champion jockey.
“My legal team has the reasons and are looking at them,” said Hughes.
“You have to be intelligent to read them, but I do know the difference between 50 days and 10 days.
“At the moment I don’t really know what’s happening.”
Peter Casey’s Flemenstar is reported in great shape as he features among 12 entries for the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse on Sunday.
The seven-year-old has enjoyed a fantastic season, winning four times on the bounce over fences without being seriously troubled.
Connections resisted the temptation to send the gelding to last month’s Cheltenham Festival and he will instead bid for his second Grade One prize on Easter Sunday.
Casey said: “This has been the plan for him all year, he is in great form at the moment, he did his final piece of work at the Curragh this morning and all went well.
“We will be keeping an eye on the ground as obviously we don’t want it too quick.”
Champion trainer Willie Mullins has two possible runners in Bishopsfurze and Call The Police.
Bishopsfurze has won twice from three starts over fences at some of Ireland’s lesser tracks, while Call The Police was third in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham.
The Mouse Morris-trained Rathlin took a while to find his feet over the larger obstacles but is an interesting contender having won his last three starts.
Commenting on ground conditions, racecourse manager Peter Roe said: “The forecast is dry and the plan is to resume watering on Thursday with the aim of maintaining good ground.”
