Tony Martin willing to bring Pyromaniac case to High Court

An application for a judicial review of the 42-day suspension which currently rules the Tony Martin-trained Pyromaniac out of this week's Galway festival is expected to be filed in the High Court on Monday.

Pyromaniac, who has been removed from most ante-post betting lists for Thursday’s Guinness Galway Hurdle, could still contest the €300,000 festival highlight if an injunction is granted ahead of any hearing.

Should any potential review hearing not take place before Thursday it is understood the horse owned by Maurice Regan’s Newtown Anner Stud would get to take his chance at Galway.

On Thursday Martin successfully appealed a €2,000 fine imposed on him for using the racecourse as a training ground at Killarney almost two weeks ago, arguing that a subsequently discovered problem with Pyromaniac’s teeth could have influenced his performance.

However the Turf Club’s Referrals Committee panel, while stressing the Co Meath trainer hadn’t been negligent in his care of the animal, did impose a €1,000 fine on Martin under another rule clause relating to horses not running in a condition which precludes their winning.

Jockey Patrick McGuigan was banned for seven days under “non-trier” rules at Killarney, a decision he didn’t appeal but the ban on Pyromaniac was confirmed on Thursday. It is a decision that has prompted both Martin and the horse’s owners to examine options for taking the matter further.

“If we’re not able to appeal to the Turf Club we will have to go along another route,” Martin said on Sunday. “We’re not letting this lie. We’re definitely doing something. The legal boys are looking at all of that.”

Martin confirmed that Pyromaniac is currently fit and well and that he is still looking towards Galway with the horse if he’s permitted to run.

“I’m happy with him and I can find no reason not to run him in something, preferably the hurdle,” he said. “My horses hadn’t been firing but I’m pleased now with all the horses I have on route to Galway.”

Martin runs three horses on Day One of the festival including Ted Veale in the featured €80,000 Connacht Hotel Handicap, a race the trainer won in both 2014 and 2013 with Quick Jack and Edeyimi respectively.

Ruby Walsh rides the Martin-trained Sarwistan in the second race on the card.