Treacy wins appeal over 21-day ban

Tommy Treacy yesterday won his appeal against a 21-day ban and is free to take the ride on Danoli in Sunday week's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

At a two-hour hearing of the Turf Club's appeals and referrals committee yesterday, Treacy was cleared of riding an injudicious race on Unarmed, an odds-on second to Northern Galaxy at Navan on January 11th.

"It's a great relief and having my name cleared is the main thing," Treacy said afterwards.

Treacy had been widely perceived to have been harshly treated in picking up the suspension, and Conor O'Dwyer, who rode Northern Galaxy at Navan, was one of those who gave evidence in Treacy's defence yesterday. Unarmed's trainer Paddy Mullins was also present.

"I had a very fair hearing and had good people standing by me," said Treacy. "Unarmed is not a particularly difficult ride, but he doesn't like soft ground and on it can only show a bit of toe for about 50 yards. Some people can't understand how he can appear to be going so well and then not quicken, but it's because of the ground. On better going he will prove himself," he added.

Treacy agreed that a significant number of disgruntled punters who heckled him on the day had not helped him.

O'Dwyer agreed that Treacy's hearing had been fair and added: "I think it's important for the future that people with race-riding experience should be included on stewards' panels. I'm sure I'm speaking for all his weighing-room colleagues when I say it was the right outcome to a very fair hearing."

Treacy's solicitor Andrew Coonan said: "It was a very fair and equitable hearing. The members of the committee dealt with the matter purely on the facts and therefore allowed the appeal."

British Flat champion jockey Kieren Fallon was banned for two days (Feb 5th and 6th) for using his whip in the forehand position down the shoulder on Half Tone, runner-up to Mary Cornwallis in the opening Landau Handicap at Lingfield yesterday.

It was a chance ride for Fallon, who came in for the mount when Seb Saunders was unavailable.