The Appeals Body (Division 2) Mr. Robert Dore (in the chair), Mr. John Murphy and Mr. Noel McCaffrey convened at the Offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Wednesday 2^nd November 2022 to consider the appeal of Philip Byrnes (Rider) against the decision of the Stewards at Sligo on 21^st  October 2022.

On the day, following the running of the Hazelwood Handicap Hurdle, the Stewards found Mr. Byrnes, rider of I Am Spider Man, in breach of Rule 212A(ii) in that he had failed in his obligations to be seen to be the subject of a genuine attempt to achieve from his mount, timely, real and substantial efforts to achieve a best possible placing. Having considered his record in this regard the Stewards suspended Mr. Byrnes for 10 racedays.

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

At the Appeal Hearing, evidence was heard from Mr. Byrnes and the committee also watched footage of the race.

In his evidence, Mr. Byrnes explained that his instructions for this race were to be three quarters of the way back and to get the horse settled early as he can be a keen going horse. He stated that he had ridden the horse previously at Sedgefield where he was very forward going but he managed to get him settled on that occasion. Mr. Byrnes added that at Sligo he was a bit further back than he would have liked but he was happy that it was a strong pace and that fancied horses were around him. He stated that the horse slipped at the bend away from the stands on the final circuit and he was almost unrideable from that point. Mr. Byrnes said that after the slip he wanted to try and keep a horse on his outside in case his mount would try to run out and in hindsight he would have pulled the horse up. He said that his mount emptied quickly from the third last hurdle.

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

The case was presented by Mr. Michael Daly, IHRB Regulatory Legal Advisor. Mr. Byrnes was represented by Mr. Kevin Power of Maurice Power Solicitors, Lord Edward Street, Kilmallock, County Limerick.

Suspension Dates: 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 8^th, 12^th, 13^th, 15^th, 17^th, 19^th, and 20^th November