Ted Walsh wins appeal against ‘Non-Trier' fine but his runner still banned for 60 days
However, the horse at the centre of the case, Ta Na La, owned by Walsh's wife, Helen, is still suspended from racing following an appeal hearing at the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Monday.
As well as fining Walsh, the race-day stewards at Wexford over a week ago suspended Ta Na La from racing for 60 days and banned jockey Shane O'Callaghan for 14 days after the horse finished second in a five-runner novice chase won by Aspire Tower.
They concluded that both rider and trainer had breached parts of Rule 212 'in that the rider was not seen to have attempted to obtain from his mount timely, real and substantial efforts to achieve the best possible place'.
READ MORE
O'Callaghan opted to not appeal his suspension, but Walsh appealed against his fine and the suspension for Ta Na La was also appealed.
The Grand National-winning trainer, still one of racing's best-known figures having stepped down from his RTÉ role in 2023 after 40 years commenting on the sport, was not at Wexford where his official representative, Brendan Brady, accompanied O'Callaghan in the inquiry.
On that occasion, O'Callaghan stated that his instructions 'issued directly from the trainer' were to jump and get his mount settled as the mare can be very free in her races. He added he was told to get her jumping well, come home the best she could 'and not to use his whip'.
The inquiry also heard that the IHRB vet at the track reported the animal to be post-race normal. The vet reported to the stewards he had received a report from Ta Na La's groom that the horse had 'coughed a few times after being sampled'.
Following a hearing that last about an hour on Monday, an IHRB appeals panel kept the suspension on Ta Na La but a spokesperson said: 'Having considered the trainer's evidence they allowed his appeal.'
In other news, Camille Pissarro has been installed an early favourite to give Aidan O'Brien a second French classic success this season in Sunday's Qatar Prix Du Jockey Club.
Christophe Soumillon riding Camille Pissarro. Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty
A total of 25 colts remains in the €1.5 million French Derby at Chantilly after the latest acceptance stage with Camille Pissarro topping a quartet from Ballydoyle.
The son of Wootten Bassett is already a Group One winner in France having landed last October's Prix Jean Luc Lagadere on Arc day at Longhamp.
Runner up on his reappearance in the Gladness Stakes at the Curragh, Camille Pissarro couldn't overcome the impact of a high draw in the French 2000 Guines but ran on notably well to finish third to his stable companion Henri Matisse in the 'Poulains'.
'I think Camille Pissarro looks the one, I would imagine,' O'Brien reported. 'Trinity College was second in the Epsom Trial and it looks like both of those will go.'
After many previous attempts, O'Brien finally broke his duck in the French Derby in 2021 through St Mark's Basilica, one of just a trio of Irish winners in the famous race.
David O'Brien's Assert made history in 1982 when becoming the first foreign trained French Derby winner under jockey Christy Roche. A year later, Pat Eddery was in the saddle as Caerleon scored for Vincent O'Brien.
Ryan Moore is likely to team up with Camille Pissarro and he won the Jockey Club in 2014 on The Grey Gatsby for Kevin Ryan.
In recent years the Jockey Club has usually taken place a day after the Epsom Derby but this time is scheduled the weekend before.
O'Brien took both Delacroix and The Lion In Winter out of the Chantilly highlight on Monday, indicating both are on target to line up at Epsom. However, Godolphin has left their 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court in the Jockey Club reckoning.
Bookmaker reaction was to put Camille Pissarro top of ante-post betting lists at a general 9-2, ahead of Ruling Court and the local hopes Ridari and Cualificar.
The latter is also owned by Godolphin and won a Group Three at Chantilly on his last start. Cualificar is a son of O'Brien's 2015 Epsom Oaks winner, Qualify.
Ridari, was fifth behind Henri Matisse in the Longchamp Guineas but only after being hampered in the closing stages which dropped him back a number places.
O'Brien's French Derby plans also leave it increasingly likely his hopes of a record-extending 11th Epsom Derby victory will revolve around the trio of Delacroix, Lambourn and The Lion In Winter.
'I would imagine Ryan has the choice between them. The horse in the Dante [The Lion In Winter] has to come on and everything has to go right for him, and it has gone right so far.
'Delacroix has done absolutely everything perfect so far. He has done everything right and his preparation has gone perfect' O'Brien said. 'I would imagine Ryan will find it hard it hard not to ride him but that doesn't mean he won't ride him.'
His Oaks chances on Friday week are likely to come down the trio of Giselle, Minnie Hauk and Whirl, all major trial winners recently.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Seven years after her big breakthrough, Béibhinn Parsons feels like Rugby World Cup is just the start
It is mid-afternoon in the High Performance Centre (HPC) and the Ireland players are trying on their World Cup uniforms. Bundles of bags are laid out in a line along one touchline of the synthetic indoor pitch. It is Thursday, the day before the Irish women's squad leaves for England ahead of their first World Cup Pool C match against Japan in Northampton next weekend. In another corner, they watch a promotional video and in the middle of the pitch a giant Irish shirt lies flat on the ground having travelled the country. It's a giddy snapshot of a group of players ringing with hope and energising the vast empty space of the building. Béibhinn Parsons is in the mood. It is the second year in a row she has experienced the uniform ritual. Last year, the Olympic Games ; this year, the Rugby World Cup. The image is of the wonderous life of an elite athlete. READ MORE It has been far from that for Parsons. Seven years have passed since the phenom was drafted into the Irish sevens squad at 16 and then played in a Test match against the USA to make history as Ireland's youngest senior international player. Now, she feels like she is at the beginning again. 'I honestly feel like I'm only getting started now. It really does feel like the Scotland game felt like a first cap,' she says. 'It felt like the start of my career even though I have been here a while. I just want a good clean run. I feel like I just want to tear into 15s and see how far I can go.' Béibhinn Parsons has overcome serious injuries and is raring to go ahead of Ireland's World Cup opener in Northampton. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho Eight months ago, Parsons faced a second lengthy spell on the sidelines after breaking her leg during a sevens tournament in Cape Town. It was horrible misfortune, especially as it came so soon after suffering a broken fibula during Ireland's quarter-final defeat to Australia at the Olympic Games in Paris. Ireland's World Cup: limping to the start line or a golden opportunity? Listen | 28:38 Two leg breaks in one year. She missed this season's Six Nations but returned in July. There were some nerves. 'I think anyone that has suffered a big injury or a recurring injury . . . there is nobody who steps out onto the field – man or woman – in perfect shape,' she says. 'You are always carrying a bit of something. It's having the mental strength to be able to deal with that and silence any of those thoughts. 'There is also a piece surrounding trusting your gut as well. If people are telling you that you are fine and you don't feel fine and vice versa, you have to be able to distinguish what's real and what's not. That's a skill in itself. 'I was nervous but what overruled that was all the excitement and the buzz around and the will to want to play. Any nerves I had I used as energy and right now I feel good.' There are several players in the World Cup squad who also played in the Olympic Games. Staged in the Stade de France, the Paris event shattered rugby attendance records with 66,000 for the women's tournament. Stacey Flood, Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe and Eve Higgins were with Parsons at the Olympics and have combined to complete a potentially glorious 14 months of rugby. Ireland's Béibhinn Parsons in action with Isabella Nasser of Australia in the quarter-final of the rugby sevens at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho 'In my head there is a comparison,' says Parsons. 'It's a mega sporting event with a lot of eyes and a lot of pressure and you need to invite that pressure in and see it as a privilege and be able to take that on your shoulders, or you can shy away from it. 'Going to the Olympics I realised there is only one option. If you want to perform you have to take it all in, good or bad. That's what I did. I really loved the crowd, loved the energy, loved the people who were watching and I'm going to face this World Cup in the same way.' The difference is that the World Cup is a slow burner over an initial three weeks and then a knockout phase. The sevens tournament was played at high octane for three days, starting on a Sunday in July and ending the following Tuesday. 'In some ways it's a sprint whereas this World Cup will be a marathon and we know we'll have good weeks and bad weeks,' adds Parsons. 'It's about how resilient you can be and I think the hardest working and most resilient team will come out on top.' [ From medical theatre to the rugby arena, Linda Djougang's focus is on successful outcomes Opens in new window ] It is no fun watching your team progress from the physiotherapist's table, watching as players try and fill your boots. But there have been positives along the seven-year journey. Even the double leg break, the forced removal and being out of the bubble from the competitive action comes with a sense of renewal and urgency to push on. No looking back. 'I think you come back with that freshness and you can look at the game from a bird's eye view when you are out and then come back and see. 'You are removed. You have that calmness. You can see where you came from and what goals you have going forward. It's a nice moment for reflection. 'But I don't ever want to be in that position again. You can learn a lot and you come back with an edge because you know how hard you have worked and that doesn't count for nothing in life.' The Irish winger wanders back towards the bundles. At 23-years-old, a first World Cup shirt is waiting.
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Woman granted barring order over abusive behaviour by partner
A woman whose partner allegedly 'forces' her to have sex 'every second night' has been granted an interim barring order against him. The woman, who sought the order against her partner of more than a decade at the emergency domestic violence court at Dublin's Dolphin House, claimed on one occasion she was left covered in bruises. She told Judge Mark O'Connell that her partner has had a cocaine addiction for two years, claiming he gets 'very paranoid' and abusive. 'He always thinks I'm cheating on him, and he follows me everywhere,' she said. READ MORE She added that her partner, with whom she has a child, wakes her up in the middle of the night and 'forces' her to have sex, which I don't want.' Noting this constitutes rape, the judge asked how often it occurs, with the woman saying it was 'every second night'. 'One night, he uses me, and the other night, he sleeps,' she said. On one occasion, the woman said she was brought to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit at the Rotunda Hospital by gardaí and was 'all bruises.' She said her partner has been charged by the gardaí. 'He is behaving in an absolutely violent and unacceptable way,' said the judge. 'He has to leave.' She was granted an interim barring order against her partner until a full hearing, in which one of up to three years could be granted. The temporary order will mean her partner is removed from the home by gardaí and prohibited from contacting her. She was one of about 15 people, the vast majority women, to seek emergency protection at the court on Friday morning. Another woman, who said she was 'in fear of my life and my kids' lives', was granted a protection order against her former partner. She claimed he was sharing her current location online and posting allegations that she is a 'child molester' and 'running a paedophile ring'. 'It's putting the lives of my kids in danger,' she told the judge. The woman, who is staying in emergency accommodation with her children, said she is 'petrified that he's going to send people.' 'I've been in and out of hostels and this is my fifth homeless accommodation because of this man, because he keeps turning up with blades, turning up with baseball bats, with hatchets. 'He has beat me so bad that he made me urinate myself. I'm in fear of my life and my kids' lives,' she said. She claimed on one occasion, she was held hostage by the man for a week in his house and was seriously assaulted, saying she subsequently required brain scans at a hospital. 'I was bleeding from the ears,' she said. The woman, who is originally from another county in Ireland, said she did not report the ordeal to gardaí as she was 'petrified.' She also alleged that the man has been attending her children's schools and trying to contact her older child on social media, through 'other children.' 'I can't take it any more,' she said. The judge granted the protection order until a full hearing. The order prohibits any contact, intimidation, and violence, and if breached, can result in a fine, prison sentence or both. Another woman was granted a protection order after telling the judge her former partner was allegedly using drugs in front of their children on a trip abroad. She said her son, aged over 10, had been 'acting out' over the last year or so, and after he began to attend counselling sessions, 'it all came out' that his father had used drugs in front of him at a hotel abroad. 'He actually took 12 tablets and told the kids that if he doesn't wake up, to go down and tell the reception. The kids were petrified; they sat in the room for the whole two days,' she said.
Irish Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Watch: David Clifford adds another wonder score to his long list
David Clifford was at it again this weekend, but in the colours of his Fossa club. Fresh from his second All-Ireland title with Kerry, Clifford was firing two pointers for fun in the 4-16 to 0-18 Kerry Intermediate Championship victory over Firies. One of those was an outrageous effort against the breeze under serious pressure, which helped Fossa, playing on their own patch, to qualify for the quarter-finals. Clifford knew he had a free shot at the time as Fossa were on an advantage, and he sent it high over a block as it soared over the bar. The double Footballer of the Year, who looks poised to win the most prestigious individual award in the game for a third time, finished with 0-9 in a 10 point win. Paudie Clifford, who starred in the All-Ireland sat the game out. The older Clifford brother carryied an injury into the latter stages of the race for Sam Maguire, but was fit enough to start from half time onwards in the All-Ireland quarter-final win over Armagh. His return led to a surge in Kerry's form as they ran out impressive winners over Armagh, Tyrone and Donegal to land the All-Ireland.
