Kinane issue is resolved

Michael Kinane's ban he picked up for careless riding on Sophisticat at Leopardstown on July 18th was finally confirmed yesterday at a hearing of the Turf Club's Appeals and Referrals Committee.

The outcome of the inquiry was that his second appeal was dismissed and he forfeited his deposit. He will be banned for today and tomorrow, which means the jockey has succeeded in having the suspension deferred to a date when he will miss nothing of significance.

Kinane appealed against the original suspension, which was due to take effect on July 27th and 28th ruling him out of the ride on Galileo in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

However, after his appeal was dismissed Kinane obtained an interim injunction - a legal term for a stay of proceedings - in the Dublin High Court.

It was granted on the eve of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes which allowed Kinane to take the winning ride on Galileo.

After the case was heard in the High Court last Wednesday, it emerged that the agreed procedures had not been followed by the Appeals and Referrals Committee.

The committee had announced that the appeal was dismissed and the suspension was confirmed instead of first allowing Kinane's legal team to make a plea of mitigation. As a result the decision of the committee to uphold the two-day suspension was declared null and void and a reconvening of the appeal with different Turf Club personnel took place yesterday.

The Turf Club will now consider a change in its rules to bring in a Group One exemption for relatively minor suspensions in the wake of the Kinane case.

Six days of racing at Tralee lie ahead of punters and on the opening session an intriguing match is that offered by Saor Theas and Sparkling Gold in the Beginners' Chase.

If this was a handicap hurdle Sparkling Gold would have to give 1lb to his rival, a reflection of their encounter at Punchestown in October when Sparkling Gold beat his rival by a neck at level weights. As Saor Theas failed to get around in his first chase, there is no reason for not taking Sparkling Gold to confirm hurdles superiority.

Pat Scallan rode Venus De Milo at Galway and for reasons made clear above keeps the mount in the mile fillies maiden. She did not act well at Galway when beaten by Saranac Lake and can now take her revenge on Saranac Lake's stablmate, Stylish Icon, who is expected to be well suited by this mile.

Johnny Murtagh's first visit to Ripon yesterday was rewarded with a win on Resplendent Cee.