RACING: Owner Mary Hayes' appeal against the 60-day ban imposed on Laetitia after the mare's controversial defeat at Cork last month was rejected by an appeals and referrals committee yesterday. The committee, chaired by Gordon Holmes, met at the Turf Club offices at the Curragh.

The Cork stewards had imposed the suspension following the Coolmore Brian Boru INH Flat Race, after which amateur rider Michael Purcell was banned for 50 days and fined €2,000. The stewards had noted the explanation of trainer Charles Byrnes, whose Alpha Royale won the race with stablemate Laetitia second.

The owner's solicitor, Denis Linehan, sought permission to add two further grounds of appeal - that the question of imposing a penalty on the mare should not have been dealt with in the absence of Mary Hayes, and that she had not been granted fair procedures. Having considered the application, the committee dismissed the request.

They then considered Mary Hayes' appeal, which stated that "as owner she ought not to be saddled with a penalty which if put into effect will cause her considerable financial loss". Having heard evidence and watched videos of the Cork race, the committee re-affirmed the findings of the stewards and disallowed the appeal.

They also noted that this was "the worst case of this type that they have had to deal with". They ordered that Mary Hayes' deposit be forfeited and that costs of €500 be paid.

In making their findings, the committee noted that both Mary Hayes and her husband, John Hayes, were out of the country on April 24th and that they were completely innocent of any wrongdoing. The committee also expressed dissatisfaction at the accuracy of the evidence given by Byrnes and cautioned him regarding accuracy in future.

Laetitia won at Kilbeggan on Saturday while awaiting the appeal hearing.