Pipe hit with #3,000 fine

Martin Pipe yesterday branded the Jockey Club's decision to fine him £3,000 and ban jockey Jamie Moore for 21 days as "ridiculous". The Pipe-trained Celtic Son, one of the ante-post market leaders for the new Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, will not be allowed to run for 40 days, which rules him out of the Festival meeting.

Pipe and Moore appeared before the disciplinary panel at Shaftesbury Avenue yesterday following Celtic Son's fifth-place finish behind Salsalino in a novice event at Exeter last October.

The trainer was found in breach of rule 155 (ii) in that he failed to give adequate instructions to Moore to ensure the horse ran on its merits.

The rider was found guilty under rule 157 in that he failed to take all reasonable and permissible measures to gain the best possible placing with the intent to conceal the horse's ability.

Pipe said: "It's ridiculous. Jamie has definitely hit the horse. He says he hit it every time he waved his whip, and I believe him. I think they had made their minds up before we even went in. He's won five times since the race. If he hadn't, you have to wonder whether we would still be stood here. I am very disappointed. They have got it totally wrong."

Moore was also upset, adding: "It's an absolute joke. I have done my very best on the horse. I have driven him for a mile and hit him 10 times. I am not sure yet about an appeal. I will have to talk to the boss and Mr Mac Neice (his solicitor)."

Celtic Son's owner David Johnson was not present at yesterday's hearing but he, too, was downhearted about the verdict. "I have heard the decision went against us and I am bitterly disappointed," he said.

"It's up to Mr Pipe and Jamie Moore whether there is an appeal as it is them who have been fined and banned. I can't see the point in going back to the same judge again, as it probably will be, as you will just get the same verdict.

"If we appeal before Cheltenham, in the next two or three weeks, and the appeal went against us, we would lose Aintree as well. I'm not sure there's any point. I will leave that decision to Mr Pipe and Jamie though."