Racing: Culloty fails to have appeal adjourned

An attempt by Jim Culloty to have his appeal against the three-day suspension that will deprive him of the ride on Best Mate in next week's King George VI Chase, adjourned until Monday ended in failure at Portman Square last night.

Culloty had secured the services of Ireland's leading racing lawyer, Andrew Coonan, in the hope of continuing his Gold Cup-winning partnership with Best Mate at Kempton on Boxing Day. Coonan had secured Mick Kinane's release from suspension in time to steer Galileo to victory in last year's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, however previous commitments prevent him from attending today's hearing before the Jockey Club's disciplinary committee.

Andrew Thornton is also at Portman Square today, challenging the 10-day ban, due to begin on Boxing Day, which he received when taking the wrong course and failing to pull up in the cross-country race at Cheltenham on Friday.

A Jockey Club spokesman said: "The date of 18 December was selected for the appeals from last Friday, but subsequently Andrew Coonan asked for the date to be changed because he cannot make it. The Committee considered the request, but in view of the fact that the date had been set, they considered his grounds were not sufficient to move the hearing."

With Tony McCoy looking the likely big-race replacement if Culloty is unsuccessful, the appeal has the potential to backfire on Culloty, who was found guilty of dropping his hands and losing third place in a bumper. The local stewards gave the rider the wrong punishment for the offence which should carry a penalty of seven to 10 days.

* Today's cards at Catterick and Ludlow are threatened by frost and there will be morning inspections at both courses.