The Appeals Body (Division 2) Mr. Sean Barry (in the chair), Mr. Noel McCaffrey and Dr. Tom McDonogh convened at the Offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Monday 18th July 2022 to consider the appeal of Paul Townend (Rider) against the decision of the Stewards at Killarney on 16th May 2022.
On the day, following the running of the Tote Sliabh Luachra Hurdle, the Stewards found Mr. Townend, rider of Shewearsitwell, in breach of Rule 214 in that he had ridden carelessly and having considered his record they cautioned him on this occasion.
The grounds of appeal lodged by Mr. Townend was that the Stewards on the day erred in their decision.
At the Appeal Hearing, evidence was heard from Mr. Townend and the committee also watched a recording of the race.
In his evidence, Mr. Townend explained that he had tracked Jack Kennedy on The Bosses Oscar who had jumped right throughout the race. He stated that he had tried to guide his horse on a straight line throughout and he corrected his mount twice to keep his racing line. Mr. Townend accepted that his mount had a look at the last hurdle and went slightly left but he couldn’t have anticipated that happening so close to the hurdle and he had ridden professionally at all times and he couldn’t have done any more.
Having considered the evidence, the Appeals Body allowed the appeal.
The case was presented by Mr. Michael Daly, IHRB Regulatory Legal Advisor and Mr. Townend was represented by Mr. Andrew Coonan of Coonan Cawley Solicitors, Naas, County Kildare.