The Appeals Body (Division 1) Ms. Susan Ahern B.L. (in the chair), Mr. M.C. Hickey and Mr. Jack Rearden convened at the Offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Tuesday 9^th August 2022 to consider the appeal of Donagh Meyler (Rider) against the decision of the Stewards at Ballinrobe on 19^th July 2022.

On the day, following the running of the Pat Dermody Memorial Maiden Hurdle, the Stewards found Mr. Meyler, rider of Vocito, in breach of Regulation 10.3(h) in that he had used his whip with his arm above shoulder height

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

At the Appeal Hearing, evidence was heard from Mr. Meyler and the committee also watched a recording of the race.

In his evidence, Mr. Meyler accepted that he felt at the Stewards Enquiry that he was in breach of the rule but having subsequently watched the recordings of the race that he felt he wasn’t in breach of the rule and that he interrupted the rule wrong at the initial enquiry. He added that his mount made a slight mistake at the last hurdle and he got unbalanced. In addition, he added that there is a camber on the track which makes it appear that his arm is above shoulder height when that is not fully the case.

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

The case was presented by Mr. Michael Daly, IHRB Regulatory Legal Advisor and Mr. Meyler was represented by Mr. Andrew Coonan of Coonan Cawley Solicitors, Naas, County Kildare.

Dates of suspension: 12^th, 14^th, 17^th, 19^th, 20^th, 22^nd August