The Appeals Body, Mr Nick Wachman (Chairman), Mr Jack Reardan and Mr John Murphy convened at Offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Tuesday, 29 October to consider the appeal of Ronan Whelan (Rider) against the decision of the Raceday Stewards at Dundalk on 18 October 2024.

On the day, following the running of the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap, the Raceday Stewards found Mr Whelan, rider of  Ateenosix, in breach of Rule 214, in that he had ridden carelessly and having considered his record in this regard, they suspended him for four racedays.

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

At the appeal hearing, evidence was heard from Mr Whelan. The Appeals Body also watched a recording of the race.

In his evidence, Mr Whelan stated that he was traveling well on the turn into the home straight and there was a substantial gap on his outside, which he felt he was entitled to go for. Mr Whelan explained that his mount started to lug left and the horses on his inside came out from the bend. Mr Whelan also stated that he was already committed to going into the gap and he could have clipped a heal if he had not moved into it. Mr Whelan accepted that an incident occurred and that he made contact with the horse on his outside, however he felt that there was mitigating factors that caused it and therefore he was not the cause of the incident.

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

The appeal was presented by Mr Whelan. The IHRB was represented by Mr Andrew Ring, IHRB Stipendiary Steward.