Racing: Knight and Murphy to fight fine and bans

The trainer was fined £1,000, the jockey banned for 14 days and the horse prevented from running for 40 days following the two-mile novice hurdle. The local stewards ruled the mare had been "tenderly ridden", the 9-4 shot finishing a well-beaten fifth.

"I am going to appeal. It's in the hands of my solicitor and he's going to lodge it," Knight said yesterday. Her Wantage stable is still coming to terms with the loss of triple Gold Cup winner Best Mate following a suspected heart attack at Exeter on Tuesday.

"It's the last straw in a trying week," she said, adding that Harringay had a well-documented history of wind problems

Murphy lodged his appeal earlier yesterday. He said: "I've seen a re-run of the race and I stick by what I said yesterday. The horse has breathing problems and was choking. I did what I thought was best for the horse." Any hearing would take place before Murphy's suspension, which is due to start on 14 November.