TRAINER Mark Fahey will appeal against a €6,000 fine imposed on him this week by the Referrals Committee over a ‘non-trier’ at Limerick on November 16th.

Jockey Gavin Brouder was suspended for three weeks over the ride and the horse, a nine-year-old mare named Strong Roots, has been banned from racing for 90 days.

The stewards on the day were unable to investigate the matter as there was a separate inquiry taking place after the race and Brouder was unavailable later in the day following a fall. Strong Roots, a maiden in seven previous starts, was well backed to win the Limerick handicap hurdle but finished ninth.

At a hearing convened at Fairyhouse last Sunday, Brouder said his mount was off the bridle from an early stage and that “he even asked one of the other riders in the race if she looked 100% because she wasn’t jumping well.”

Fahey said he was not happy with the ride on the day but he did not report this to the stewards as he felt the time to do that was at the enquiry which was then not held.

The Philip Rothwell-trained Duffy’s Hodey, who finished sixth in that race, was also deemed a non-trier by the acting stewards on the day. Rothwell was fined €2,000 for the offence and his appeal will be heard next Monday.