'I'm really looking forward to getting back home' - Shark Hanlon's licence reinstated after remainder of ban is suspended

Shark Hanlon's training licence has been reinstated by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board and he could be back saddling runners this weekend after a referrals committee suspended the last three and a half months of the ban.

Last season's King George-winning trainer was handed the original ten-month ban and fined €2,000 for transporting a dead horse in an open trailer attached to one of his branded lorries, with the carcass fully visible to the public. A passer-by filmed the scene and the footage was subsequently widely spread on social media.

As a result of the incident, which occurred in June, Hanlon's licence was suspended and he was fined €2,000 after a referrals committee labelled his conduct as "grossly negligent" and "injurious to the good reputation of the sport" in September.

Hanlon immediately made clear his intention to appeal against the sanction and it was reduced to six months in October with the suspension starting on December 1, resulting in his offering 24 of his horses at the Goffs UK October Horses in Training Sale, when 15 sold for a total of £113,000.

Since the ban, Tara Lee Cogan assumed training at the Carlow yard and Hanlon's string have been running under her name.

Tara Lee Cogan: has been training Shark Hanlon's horses since the banCredit: Caroline Norris

The appeals body provided Hanlon with the opportunity to have the final three months of the ban suspended, provided he fulfilled a number of conditions, including not knowingly participating in any training-related activities and not entering any weighing room, parade ring or any other area of a racecourse restricted to licensees of the IHRB.

Mr John Whelan, who represented Hanlon at the referrals committee hearing this month, made the application to suspend the final three months as per the criteria set out by the appeals body and requested his client could make a submission to apply early to the licensing committee so he could return to training on February 14 on the condition he would not run any horses in his name prior to the ban being lifted on March 1.

The referrals committee granted the request provided Hanlon does not commit any further breach of rule 272 up to June 1 or "the suspended part could come into effect along with any other penalties that might arise".

Speaking to BoyleSports, for whom he is a brand ambassador, Hanlon said: "I’ve been very busy. We had a new gallop installed, so that was a big thing for us. I lost my licence three months ago but we are back in business on March 1, so I'm really looking forward to getting back home.

"We sold a lot of horses at Doncaster and now I have to try and replace them, and get new owners, which is not simple. The only good thing out of this is that pretty much the whole world was behind me so I'm really hoping we have plenty of support when we come back."

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