Trainer Pat Fahy considering appealing fine

Trainer Pat Fahy has indicated he is considering an appeal against a €1,000 fine after his runner Shantou Ed was suspended for 30 days for breaching "non-trier" rules at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

The Fairyhouse stewards carried out five running-and-riding inquiries on the first day of the “winter festival” and another runner in the Beginners Chase, the Tony Martin-trained Bobbie’s Diamond, was also found in breach of Rule 212. Bobbie’s Diamond was also banned from running for 30 days and Martin was also fined €1,000. Bobbie’s Diamond’s rider Philip Enright was suspended for seven days, as was Shantou Ed’s jockey Alan Crowe.

Fahy initially reported he would consider an appeal after consulting with Frank Berry, racing manager to Shantou Ed’s owner JP McManus, and a day later did not rule it out. Martin is also considering his options.

Bobbie’s Diamond races in the colours of Deborah Breslin but all four other running-and-riding inquiries involved horses owned by JP McManus.

The Fairyhouse stewards on Saturday “noted” explanations offered for the performances of three other McManus-owned runners, Blow The Doors Off, Stakes Wallace and Uaintseenothingyet.

The latter pair, trained by Enda Bolger and Edward Harty respectively, ran in a maiden hurdle, while the Conor O’Dwyer-trained Blow The Doors Off ran in the same Beginners Chase as Shantou Ed and Bobbie’s Diamond.