Appeals lost

TRAINER Pat Coffey has lost his appeal against a €2,000 fine imposed by the Navan stewards on December 9th over the running and riding of The Monks Kitchen in a maiden hurdle.

And jockey J.J. Slevin will miss the remainder of the year having lost his appeal against a five-day ban he received at Punchestown on December 10th for his use of the whip on Flynsini stewards.

Coffey’s 100/1 chance, who finished ninth of 21, was ridden by John Fitzpatrick who was banned for 10 days and did not appeal his suspension.

Coffey said he had told the stewards he was satisfied with the ride but he had not seen all stages of the race.

The Appeals Body felt Coffey’s explanations remained unsatisfactory and he remained responsible for everything connected with the running of the horse.

Slevin’s solicitor Kevin Power accepted his client was in breach of the regulation insofar as it related to the frequency of the whip use and the time given for the horse to respond. But Slevin did not accept he used the whip with excessive force.

In confirming the ban, the Appeals Body ordered Slevin to attend RACE for a day’s tuition on the correct use of the whip.