Rajeh duo ditch Warwick appeals

Jockey Warren Marston and trainer John Spearing have not appealed 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 Spearing fined £5000 (€7,400).

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

The ban rules Marston out of the last four weeks of the National Hunt season when fixtures include the three-day Grand National meeting at Aintree and the Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown.

“I am extremely disappointed that I received this month-long ban and strongly deny any suggestion that I’ve cheated on this horse,” said Marston.

“In spite of receiving this very heavy penalty – the first in my career – I have decided against appealing as I believe it will be very difficult to overturn this decision in London.

“There are times when a jockey needs to ride a race to suit a horse and my recent experience on this horse taught me he was very keen and needed to be settled to give him the best chance.”

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.

However, 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.