ROSSA Ryan was banned for 28 days at Sandown on Thursday for “failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures” to win on Thunder Home, which was adjudged by the stewards to have cost him victory.

Ryan’s mount kicked clear with two furlongs to run and appeared to have the race in safe keeping.

Jamie Spencer was making rapid headway on John and Thady Gosden’s Zero Error, but Ryan still looked like holding on to his advantage.

However, just a matter of strides before the line Ryan’s urgency appeared to drop before picking up again and after a photo finish Zero Error was called the winner by a nose.

Ryan’s suspension is due to commence on August 6th and will take in the Ebor meeting at York and also the Prix Morny at Deauville, where the jockey was expected to continue his partnership with the unbeaten Orthodox, trained by Clive Cox.

CONNECTIONS of Bossy Bird, runner-up to the Pat Foley-trained Arctic Flame in a handicap hurdle at Cork on July 10th, have failed to have the placings reversed on appeal.

Following Arctic Flame’s length-and-a-half win, Simon Torrens, rider of Arctic Flame, received a four-day careless riding ban. Andrew Coonan represented the successful connections of Arctic Flame at the Appeals Committee hearing.

THE Gavin Cromwell-trained Luker’s Tipple will be offered for sale online with Goffs Go on Monday. A 31-length winner of a maiden hurdle at Downpatrick on his most recent start, the five-year-old gelding holds three engagements at next week’s Galway Festival.

APPLICATIONS are being accepted for the Horsemanship for the Thoroughbred Industry QQI Level Five Major Award at the Racing Academy & Centre of Education (RACE). The programme equips learners with practical skills, industry knowledge, and a nationally recognised qualification to help them pursue a career in the sector.

The QQI Level Five Major Award is delivered on a part-time basis via evening classes. The course is subsidised through HRI Equuip, with individual modules carrying a fee of €170. However, if you decide to do the whole qualification and you are working in the industry there is a reduced fee of €340 for the full award.

The first two modules begin in mid-September 2026 and applications for these close on Friday, July 31st.

Web: racingacademy.ie

THE Irish Equine Veterinary Association [IEVA] will stage its annual conference from Thursday to Saturday, November 5th-7th across a series of locations in Co Kilkenny. Lyrath Estate will host the programme of talks, presentations and workshops on the final two days.

There will also be a gala ball on the Friday night. An introductory brochure for the event is now available by emailing kerryryanevents@gmail.com.

Web: irisheva.ie

XAVIER Pegum has joined the BBA Ireland bloodstock team for the duration of the sales season.

A graduate of the Irish National Stud thoroughbred breeding and stud management course, Pegum has previously worked for the Aga Khan Studs in Ireland, as well as Lillingston Bloodstock and News Corp Australia as a form analyst.

“I’m delighted to get an opportunity to work with the BBA Ireland bloodstock team under Patrick Cooper, Eamon Reilly, Michael Donohoe, John Tyrell and Adam Potts. We shall be covering all of the sales between now and the end of the year.”

WILLIAM Buick will be available for Qatar Goodwood Festival next week despite being given an eight-day ban for careless riding at Windsor on Monday evening. Buick will serve his suspension between August 3rd and August 10th, making him free to ride during the five-day meeting in Sussex which starts next Tuesday.

JAMES Hanly, breeder of Ombudsman, has won the Connolly’s Red Mills The Irish Field Breeder of the Month Award for June. Ombudsman won the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot for the second time last month.