Eddie Ahern, who won the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes on Preseli at the Curragh last Sunday, was given a 21 raceday ban (starts tomorrow week) at Galway yesterday for striking fellow jockey Danny Grant with his whip.

The incident occurred a furlong out in the fourth race when Ahern on Rominten "leaned over and struck" Grant on By Charlie Allen.

In the subsequent inquiry Ahern claimed he was tight for room on the bend and reacted to that by striking out at Grant. The latter said he was unaware of being struck at the time but agreed it had happened after watching the video of the race.

The stewards decided Ahern had ridden improperly and taking his record into account and suspended him for 21 racedays. Grant was severely cautioned to be more accurate in his evidence in future.

Ahern later won the last race on Margay who beat the 4 to 7 favourite Alluring by a length and a half.

Michael Stoute breathed a sigh of relief when Iscan was allowed back into the Rothmans Royals St Leger. His colt will be able to run in Saturday's race provided he passes a stalls test before racing at Leicester today.

The stewards of the Jockey Club used their discretionary powers "in the interests of racing" to modify the rule requiring Iscan to take the test more than 14 days after his last reported offence - which would have made him ineligible for the Doncaster Classic.

Fourteen horses, headed by odds-on favourite Ramruma, stood their ground at yesterday's confirmation stage, including the Aidan O'Brien pair Genghis Khan and Moon Dragon.

The participation of Elmutabaki, who could bid to give trainer Barry Hills his second St Leger success after Moonax in 1994, depends on how he comes out of a work-out today.