Reduced bans free Russell and Enright for festive fare

Davy Russell and Philip Enright are free to ride at the big Christmas festivals after the five-day bans they received for the ’whip borrowing’ incident at Clonmel on December 7 were reduced to two days on appeal.

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.