THE result of the Noble Emperor appeal wasn’t quite a formality, but the exoneration of connections over the running and riding of the horse at Limerick earlier in the month came as a surprise to nobody.

It seems to me that local stewards are either unwilling or unable to deal with a spate of minor riding offences, and only occasionally rise up to make a statement of intent, as the original decision to ban Barry Geraghty for 30 days and Noble Emperor for 60 could be described.