The Appeals Body, Mr Robert Dore (Chairman), Mr Noel McCaffrey and Dr Paddy Molony convened at the Offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Friday, 31 May to consider the appeal of Mrs Jessica Harrington (Trainer) against the decision of the Raceday Stewards at Leopardstown on Friday, 17 May 2024.

On the day, following the running of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap, the Raceday Stewards enquired into possible interference in the closing stages of this race involving Encosta, ridden by C T Keane, placed second, Enthralling, ridden by G M Ryan, placed sixth, and Mo Ghille Mar, ridden by K G Kennedy, placed first, where it appeared interference, may have occurred. The Raceday Stewards were of the opinion that Mo Ghille Mar had caused interference to Encosta and Enthralling and as a result of this interference had improved its finishing position and they therefore demoted Mo Ghille Mar from first place and placed it behind Enthralling.

The grounds of appeal lodged by Mrs Harrington on behalf of OTI Racing & Bronsan Racing, owners of Mo Ghille Mar, was that the Raceday Stewards on the day erred in their decision to demote Mo Ghille Mar from first to sixth place after they found that interference had occurred in relation to Enthralling.

At the appeal hearing, evidence was heard from Mrs Harrington, trainer of Mo Ghille Mar. The Appeals Body also watched a recording of the race.

In her evidence, Mrs Harrington accepted that interference had occurred, and that Mo Ghille Mar improved its placing to Encosta, however she stated that, in her opinion, her charge did not improve its placing in respect of Enthralling. Mrs Harrington added that she does not believe that Enthralling would have finished in front of Mo Ghille Mar, and therefore she felt it was not correct to be demoted to sixth place as a result. Mrs Harrington explained that Mr Kennedy, rider of Mo Ghille Mar, could not foresee that his mount would duck drastically to the left after the rider used his whip as she had been running straight up to the incident. Mrs Harrington stated that the rider is an inexperienced seven-pound claimer and he had corrected his mount as soon as the interference occurred.

Having considered the evidence, the Appeals Body confirmed the decision of the Raceday Stewards and dismissed the appeal and the result remained unaltered.

The appeal was presented by Mrs Harrington on behalf of OTI Racing & Bronsan Racing. The IHRB was represented by Ms Clíodhna Guy, IHRB Head of Governance and Legal.