The Appeals Body, Mr N B Wachman (Chairman), Mr Peter Reynolds and Mr Noel McCaffrey convened at the Offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Tuesday, 2 July to consider the appeal of Jamie Powell (Rider) against the decision of the Raceday Stewards at Ballinrobe on Monday, 24 June 2024. 

On the day, following the running of the Bay Leaf Handicap, the Raceday Stewards found Mr Powell, rider of Finsceal Annie, in breach of Rule 214 in that he had ridden carelessly and having considered his record in this regard they suspended him for 20 racedays.

The grounds of appeal lodged by Mr Powell was that the Raceday Stewards on the day erred in their decision.

At the Appeal Hearing, evidence was heard from Mr Powell, Declan McDonogh rider of Not Far To Fall and Ronan Whelan rider of Kilbarry Jack. The Appeals Body also watched a recording of the race.

In his evidence, Mr Powell explained that his mount jumped well from the stalls and the horses on his outside, Gregorina ridden by Adam Caffrey and Dreamline Amelia, ridden by Killian Leonard rolled forward and he followed the natural flow of the race. Mr Powell stated that he did not make any sudden movements from the stalls and in his opinion, he did not cause any interference as the incident was as a result of the flow of the race due to the nature of the track and fast approach to the first bend.

In his evidence Mr McDonogh explained that he felt this incident was due to the nature of the track and that he didn’t feel blame could be apportioned to anyone. Mr McDonogh stated that it was a congestion of horses and riders rather than a riding offence.

In his evidence, Mr Whelan explained that in his opinion the riders were all following the flow of the race from the starting stalls and what occurred was general bunching on the approach to the first bend.

Having considered the evidence, the Appeals Body allowed the appeal.

The Appeal was presented by Mr Andrew Coonan of Coonan Cawley Solicitors, Naas County Kildare on behalf of Mr Powell. Mr Johnny Murtagh was also in attendance. The IHRB was represented by Mr Andrew Ring IHRB Stipendiary Steward and Ms Christine Traynor IHRB Head of Racing Regulation and Integrity.