Aubrey McMahon to learn fate after appeal against 'non-trier' ban

Aubrey McMahon faces a wait of at least a week to learn if his appeal against a five-day 'non-trier' ban for his ride on Batcio at Tramore on New Year’s Day has been successful.

Judgement on the case was reserved at Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Friday in order for further evidential matters to be dealt with.

The Ted Walsh-trained Batcio, who was banned for 42 days, and McMahon were found to be in breach of the 'non-trier' rule when finishing sixth to Notebook in the first race of 2019, the 2m maiden hurdle at Tramore, a decision which left Walsh dumbfounded. The trainer was not found guilty of any wrongdoing.

Watch the race in question: Batcio finishing sixth at Tramore

The hearing lasted about two and a half hours after which the three-man panel of Joe Finnegan, Nick Wachman and John Murphy decided to reserve judgement for a week to ten days in order to deal with evidential matters which arose in the hearing.

Patrick Kennedy from Patrick J O’Meara, representing McMahon, sought to introduce three pieces of evidence at the hearing but only his request to have Ruby Walsh and Patrick Mullins give some expert evidence on the nuances of Tramore and how difficult a track it is to ride was allowed.

A request to use David Skelly as a reasonable and informed member of the racing public was denied, as was a request to use social media reaction.

As well as watching replays of the race in question, six other videos of McMahon riding were shown. The amateur was seen finishing sixth on Batcio behind Daly Tiger at Punchestown last November and fourth on the same horse at Galway two months earlier.

Footage was also shown of the rider being unshipped from Batcio on his way down to the start at Galway in July, forcing the horse to be withdrawn.

Kennedy also showed videos of McMahon’s back-to-back wins in the valuable Connacht Hotel Handicap at Galway on Uradel (2018) and Whiskey Sour (2017), where his hold-up tactics paid handsome dividends.

Louis Weston and Paul Murtagh, head of raceday operations for the IHRB, represented Irish racing's ruling body in the hearing.

In decision, the appeals body will set out how rules will be applied and also deal with the aforementioned evidential matters in their judgement, which is expected to be revealed before the end of the month.

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