AMATEUR rider Liam Gilligan has failed in his bid to have the ‘non-triers’ rule declared unfair.

Gilligan received a 10-day ban for making insufficient effort on Onemoreknightihope in a handicap hurdle at Limerick on December 1st. The jockey appealed the penalty and the hearing was convened via video link on December 14th.

During the appeal, Gilligan’s solicitor Patrick Kennedy made a number of submissions with regards to the fairness of Rule 212. The appeal was adjourned after it was agreed to allow another division of the Appeals Body to consider those questions.

This week division two of the Appeals Body published their finding that that they “could not support the argument made by the Appellant which is effectively to strike down part of the Rules as unfair, unreasonable and irrational.” The Appeals Body also dismissed Gilligan’s complaints of the Rules themselves being beyond the stewards’ legal powers and in breach of contract.

Gilligan’s original appeal against the 10-day ban will be rescheduled in due course.