Long bans for father and son in 'ringer' case

Richard Tierney, the conditional rider, found himself both a winner and a loser yesterday in grimly bizarre circumstances. A few hours after being warned off for two years because of his involvement in the running of a ringer at a point-to-point in 2006, he scored at Musselburgh on hurdler Amazing King.

Tierney's punishment came after a three-day inquiry by a British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel into the case of King's Crest, substituted for another horse, Green Admiral, ridden by the then-amateur to win two point-to-point races two years ago. In the first, "Green Admiral" landed a huge gamble from 12-1 to 2-1.

Tierney's father Robert, who owned and trained the horses (who have both since died), was warned off for six years.