Archive - Wednesday, 29 January 2003


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Jockey Club joy for trainer Fahey

BUTTERWICK trainer Richard Fahey is becoming almost a regular commuter on the East Coast mainline and he made his second successful trip in eight days to Jockey Club headquarters at Portman Square in London's West End last Thursday.

Following the reinstatement of Altay, who had been deprived of a big prize at Lingfield Park in a race that he finished four lengths clear of his rivals but was disqualified, Richard had lodged an appeal about the stewards' action, or rather inaction, after Inch Perfect had finished second to Mr Gisby at Southwell.

Dean Mernagh, the rider of Gisby, appeared to most observers to strike Inch Perfect on the head in the closing stages of the contest, but to their astonishment the stewards allowed the result to stand, deeming the blows to be accidental.

The appeal was heard last Thursday and the Jockey Club disciplinary panel not only overturned the Southwell stewards' verdict and awarded the race to Inch Perfect, but banned Malton-based jockey Dean Mernagh for ten days. Twenty-four year old Mernagh was shocked at the ban and maintained that any contact with the other horse was accidental.

The RSPCA had considered taking action against Mernagh, even though Inch Perfect had incurred no injury, but announced afterwards that it was satisfied with the Jockey Club's findings and would take no further action.

Certainly not satisfied were the backers of Inch Perfect, who, like those who wagered on Altay, lost their money and some doubts were expressed about the confidence of punters on the all-weather surfaces. Certainly Richard Fahey will now have confidence in the Jockey Club's appeals procedure.

Updated: 10:38 Wednesday, January 29, 2003