Davy Russell refuses to continue riding after ban

A run-of-the-mill meeting at Clonmel took an unexpected turn when the stewards reversed the placings of the first two home in the second race, the Kilmore Maiden Hurdle, leading to a dramatic series of events.

Little Folke passed the post a head in front of Solar Heat, but the two horses came close together on the run to the line and, on a review of the closing stages, the stewards deemed ‘it appeared Solar Heat received a number of strikes’ from the whip of the jockey of the first past the post, Davy Russell.

Following a lengthy enquiry, they decided to reverse the placings, and gave Russell a three-day ban for improper riding. The stewards then enquired into the conduct of Russell in the stewards’ room and gave him an additional 14 days.