McCain appeal dismissed by Jockey Club

Ginger McCain today had his appeal against the decision by the Bangor stewards not to demote Mohawk Star dismissed by the Jockey Club.

Mohawk Star found himself shut in on the inner after two out in the Geoff Dilworth 65th Birthday Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle last Saturday.

But after barging his way out, he sprinted clear on the run-in to beat the Grand National-winning trainer’s duo Coming Again and Reem Two by three lengths and one and a half lengths.

Coming Again missed the trouble but Reem Two was the meat in the sandwich when the winner and Maharaat left her short of room.

At the subsequent inquiry the stewards found the winning jockey, Alan O’Keeffe, guilty of careless riding but that Mohawk Star had not improved his placing as a result of the interference, and the placings remained unaltered.

The panel heard evidence from Steven Craine, the rider of Reem Two, and O’Keeffe, who was legally represented, as well as viewing recordings of the race.

Although the panel found that interference had occurred, they did not think that McCain’s legal representative’s explanation that the interference should be categorised as dangerous riding was borne out by the video evidence.