RACING:THE Turf Club yesterday handed former champion jockey Paul Townend (right) a further two days to the controversial three-day ban he picked up at Roscommon last month. Townend finished third on the Tony Martin-trained Mulleady in a maiden hurdle after which the stewards decided he had displayed "conduct and behaviour prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct and good reputation of horse racing" by giving the impression he was using his whip in the closing stages but not making contact.

Turf Club HQ subsequently ordered a review of the case to decide if the three-day suspension was too lenient and yesterday its Referrals Committee extended the ban to five days.

The Referrals Committee also changed the result of a race at Sligo last month when the local stewards allowed the short head winner Bondage hold the race over Face Facts. The latter’s connections appealed that decision yesterday and were awarded the race.

– BRIAN O’CONNOR