Byrne appeal hearing delayed

A hearing into jockey Josh Byrne’s appeal against a seven-day ban picked up at Leicester earlier this month has been delayed for further investigation into betting matters.

Byrne was in hot water for his riding of Shady Grey, who caught the attention of the stewards after finishing fifth in the Back And Lay At ggbet.com Novices’ Claiming Hurdle on February 2.

The ban was for “failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to ensure his horse was given a full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible placing”.

An appeal hearing was expected to take place at Jockey Club headquarters in central London on Friday.

Jockey Club public relations director John Maxse said today: “Josh Byrne’s solicitor has been informed that the appeal hearing will not be held until the security department’s inquiries into betting-related matters on the race have been concluded.”

Betting patterns before the race had attracted the attention of the specialist analysts at Shaftesbury Avenue, who contacted officials at Leicester on the day.

Shady Grey was reportedly easy to back on Betfair’s place market, despite remaining relatively static on the win market.

Held up early on, Shady Grey made steady progress in the final stages to finish fifth.

The Karen Marks-trained mare was sent off the 7-2 favourite for the toteplacepot Maiden Claiming Hurdle at Hereford today but was well beaten into second under 7lb-claimer Richard Spate.