Marston, Spearing appeals uncertain

Jockey Warren Marston and trainer John Spearing have yet to decide whether to appeal against the punishments they received over the running and riding of Rajeh at Warwick on Tuesday.

Marston was suspended for 28 days (March 31 – April 28) and John Spearing fined £5000.

Rajeh was also barred from running in any race for 40 days from March 23.

Marston’s ban would rule him out of the last four weeks of the season when fixtures include the three-day Grand National meeting at Aintree and the Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown.

Marston said: “I’ve got to speak to a few people and I will make a decision tomorrow.

“As of yet, nothing has been decided.”

Spearing added: “I don’t know whether I’ll be appealing yet.

“I haven’t done anything about it and I haven’t even thought about it.”

The Severn Stoke trainer and Marston have until 5pm on Thursday to contact the Horseracing Regulatory Authority if they choose to contest the decision of the Warwick stewards.

Rajeh was having just his second career start in the two-mile Banbury Novices’ Hurdle in which he was sent off at 33-1 and finished seventh – beaten approximately 28 lengths.

The stewards ruled the four-year-old had been tenderly ridden in the straight, with Marston arguing his mount “hit a flat spot at the end of the back straight and merely stayed on under hands-and-heels riding from three out”.

Spearing added to the stewards’ panel that the gelding had been very keen at home and had been at pains to get him to settle on the racecourse.

But having heard evidence from the pair, viewed recordings of the race, and taken into account observations from the vet and the handicapper, the stewards found them in breach of the rules of racing.