Russell and Enright lodge appeals

Davy Russell and Philip Enright have both lodged appeals against the five-day suspensions they were given over the ‘whip borrowing’ incident that occurred during a race at Clonmel on Thursday.

Dual champion jockey Russell was riding the Charles Byrnes-trained 8-13 favourite Leave At Dawn in the Powerstown Handicap Hurdle, while Enright was aboard 33-1 shot Backinyourbox.

Russell dropped his whip after his mount made a bad mistake at the first obstacle and television coverage showed him appearing to take Enright’s stick before the runners jumped the second flight.

Both horses finished well down the field, with Leave At Dawn a disappointing eighth and Backinyourbox further back in 12th position.

The stewards found Russell and Enright in breach of Rule 272, which is related to bringing racing into disrepute, and were handed five-day suspensions.

Turf Club press officer Cliff Noone said: “The two appeals have been put in and they are straightforward appeals against the suspension.

“There is no date set as they have only come in today. I would imagine there will be a date set on either Monday or Tuesday of next week.”

Meanwhile the williamhill.com Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton on December 27 is a possible starting point for Sprinter Sacre.

Nicky Henderson was forced to abandon plans to run the superstar in the Tingle Creek this weekend due to the likely soft ground after he admitted such a test may come too soon in his rehabilitation.

Henderson is striving to get him back to full fitness and a gallop with Bobs Worth yesterday morning will have helped with that.

“He was really good this morning. He and Bobs Worth went a mile and a half on the Faringdon Road,” said Henderson.