Five-year ban for Ferris

Fran Ferris was yesterday handed a five-year disqualification by the disciplinary panel of the Horseracing Regulatory Authority.

The penalty follows a hearing in London on Thursday which saw Shane Kelly suspended for 12 months, David Nolan for nine months and Josh Byrne for four months. Trainer Phil McEntee had his licence suspended for a year.

Those suspensions are of a lesser nature than a disqualification and mean Kelly, Byrne, Nolan and McEntee can still work in racing.

The five individuals were primarily found to have broken Rule 243 by communicating to Ajaz Khan for material reward, gift, favour or benefit in kind, information that was not publicly available.

However, Ferris – who is currently serving a two-year disqualification from racing - was also found guilty on five counts of deliberately riding a horse to lose in the knowledge that it was being laid to lose.

His punishment starts in seven days and will run concurrently to the two years he is already serving.

All parties have until 5pm next Friday to appeal. If they do not appeal, the suspensions will start on Saturday, April 28.