Comporta banned for 42 days as Hanlon and Brouder fall foul of Listowel stewards

Trainer Shark Hanlon was fined €2,000 and jockey Gearoid Brouder banned for ten days as the pair fell foul of the Listowel stewards on Monday over the running and riding of Comporta in the 2m handicap hurdle.

Comporta was also banned from running for 42 days under Irish racing's non-trier rules after the gelding finished last of seven, beaten eight and a half lengths.

Brouder told the stewards his instructions were to get his mount to switch off as he had raced keenly in the past and to do the best he could.

He said Comporta met with interference at the start, but this had helped him to settle the horse. Brouder added his mount hung right throughout, hung badly right in the closing stages and whinnied close to the line. He concluded by stating he should have pulled his mount up before the line.

Hanlon's representative Rachel O'Neill confirmed the instructions and expressed her overall satisfaction with the ride. She felt the rider could have been stronger near the finish, but that the horse had hung left in the closing stages.

O'Neill added that in her opinion Comporta was of limited ability and not the most genuine.

But the raceday stewards felt Hanlon and Brouder were in breach of rule 212a(ii) and were punished accordingly. In addition to his ban, Brouder was ordered to forfeit his riding fee.

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