Mercer handed 10-day ban

Keith Mercer was hit with a 10-day ban at Hexham this afternoon following his ride on Relix in the Insitu Cleaning Novices’ Hurdle.

The conditional rider finished fifth aboard the Ferdy Murphy-trained gelding, but the stewards decided he had breached rule 158 in that he had failed to use all reasonable and permissible measures to obtain the best possible finishing position.

The suspension is due to run from October 20 to 24 and from October 26 to 30.