IHRB defends robustness of non-triers rule after dismissing claim of unfairness

The IHRB has defended the robustness of its non-triers rule after an appeal against the fairness of the regulation was dismissed at a hearing last month.

Amateur jockey Liam Gilligan received a ten-day ban for his ride on Oneknightmoreihope when second at Limerick in December after being found in breach.

The stewards' report, published on Tuesday, stated the horse was not seen to be the subject of a timely, real and substantial effort to achieve its best possible placing and the rider had not been seen to make the efforts required as part of the rule.

In the post-race inquiry, Gilligan said his instructions were to hang on to the horse for as long as he could as his mount "finds nothing off the bridle" – tactics trainer Noel Glynn confirmed, while expressing satisfaction with the ride.

Full details of the case can be read on the IHRB's website

The decision to suspend the jockey was challenged, with Gilligan's solicitor Patrick Kennedy making a number of submissions on behalf of his client regarding the fairness of rule 212 at the initial hearing on December 14.

As a result of these submissions, the appeals body adjourned the matter to enable both parties to make further submissions and it was agreed they would be considered by a different panel of the body.

Gilligan's solicitor argued the rules can lead to injustice and unfairness, suggesting had the horse been ridden with greater vigour and force – therefore complying with the requirement of rule 212 to be seen to ride the horse in that way – the six-year-old would have effectively stopped.

Limerick: racecourse where initial running and riding inquiry was heldCredit: Alain Barr

He described the rule as unfair, unreasonable, arbitrary and irrational.

However, the appeals body found that it could not support the argument made by the appellant "which is effectively to strike down part of the rules as unfair, unreasonable and irrational".

Following details of the case being published, an IHRB spokesperson told the Racing Post: "We note the decision of the appeals body and remain very satisfied with rule 212. It is a fundamental rule in terms of fairness."

Gilligan's original appeal against the decision of the stewards at Limerick will proceed in front of the appeals body in due course.

The IHRB was also set to hear an appeal from Charles Byrnes into the Viking Hoard case on Tuesday afternoon, though it is uncertain at what stage over the coming days the full details of the outcome will be made available.

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