Racing: 'Non-triers' are banned as stewards crack down

Two horses were banned from the track for 40 days and their jockeys and trainers punished in a weekend crackdown under the Jockey Club's non- triers' rules.

After Tarboush, a 25-1 shot, finished third in a maiden hurdle at Ludlow yesterday the six-year-old was banned from racing for 40 days. The horse's jockey, "JP" McNamara, was suspended for seven days and Brendan Powell, the trainer, fined £1,100.

The Ludlow stewards imposed the penalties under regulations aimed at stamping out "schooling in public". A stewards' committee spokes-man, said: "The stewards considered that the jockey made insufficient effort and that the horse had ran on under what we call tender handling."

On Saturday, the Mary Reveley-trained Magical Field, a 9-1 chance who finished well to take fourth place in a novice hurdle at Newcastle, was also banned from running for 40 days.

Reveley was fined £2,200 with the mare's rider, Dominic Elsworth banned for seven days. They were also judged to have broken the rules over schooling horses in public. On her previous outing, at Catterick last month, Magical Field had looked an unlucky loser when leading over the final flight only to stumble and fall.

Elsworth said last night that he and the Reveley stable would be appealing against the penalties. "We feel very hard done by. In fact the mare has had a hard race," the jockey added.

An appeal is being considered by Powell and McNamara. Powell said: "I'm trying to get winners, not get them beat. Myself and the owners thought JP gave Tarboush an excellent ride.

"He'd finished well down the field on his first two starts over hurdles, running far too freely last time. JP got him settled brilliantly today and Tarboush has run past bad horses to finish third."

Tarboush and Magical Field were both having their third outing over hurdles. A handicap mark based on form showed so far is allotted after a horse's third run.

A decision is expected in Dublin tomorrow over whether Davids Lad, who was banned for 42 days after running down the field at Naas, can contest the Grand National after all.

A more likely participant in the Aintree marathon is Behrajan, the Cheltenham Gold Cup fifth. His trainer, Henry Daly, announced yesterday that his horse is set to run.

Behrajan, who was beaten 14 lengths behind Best Mate on Thursday, has been allotted 11st 10lb in the National and is available at around 25-1 for the race. "At the moment it is my intention to run in the National," Daly said. "The way he's run round Cheltenham and stayed on up the hill I think that's the obvious place to go – all being well."

But Ted Walsh will leave it until later in the week before making a decision on Papillon's entry. The winner of the Aintree showpiece in 2000 finished 12th of 14 runners in the Punchestown Event Centre Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

Walsh, who trains the 12-year-old, said: "We'll make a decision about Aintree later in the week, but we had no joy with him today."

The two-and-a-half mile race was won by Jeff De Chalamont, who was topping off a memorable week for another Co Kildare trainer, Jessica Harrington, who saddled last week's Queen Mother Champion Chase winner, Moscow Flyer.

Monty's Pass remains a possible Aintree contender despite finishing last of four runners at Punchestown. The 10-year-old has been well backed for Aintree. His jockey, Paul Carberry, said: "He needed the run and will come on for it."