24 Mar 2016

Kielan Woods

 

The Disciplinary Panel of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) on Thursday 24 March 2016 considered an appeal lodged by Kielan Woods, the rider of HOLLY BUSH HENRY (IRE), unplaced in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race on 15 March 2016, against the decision of the Stewards at Cheltenham, to find him in breach of Schedule (B)6 Part 2 of the Rules of Racing in that he had used his whip when out of contention and to suspend him from riding for 5 days.

 

Kielan Woods was present and gave evidence to the Panel. He was represented by Graeme McPherson who also made submissions to the Panel. The BHA was represented by Lyn Williams. The Panel also viewed recordings of the race.

 

On behalf of the BHA Mr Williams stated that Woods had used his whip three times around the home bend with very little response and the race appeared to be going away from him. He then used his whip a further three times after the last hurdle, when it should have been obvious to him that he was out of contention, and with the leaders going away from him, he had no expectation of achieving a place.

 

Mr McPherson on behalf of Woods showed the Panel three films of Woods winning on HOLLY BUSH HENRY (IRE) and confirmed that Woods knew the horse well. He said that the horse responded to the whip and that Woods was entitled to use his whip after the last hurdle despite being in approximately eleventh position. He conceded that HOLLY BUSH HENRY (IRE) was out of contention when Woods used his whip on two further occasions after the last hurdle.

 

The Panel found that HOLLY BUSH HENRY (IRE) was already out of contention when Woods used his whip after the last flight and that as the horse failed to respond he had no reasonable expectation to expect that the horse would pick up by giving a further two hits.

 

The Panel dismissed the appeal confirmed the 5 day suspension on Tuesday 29, Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 March and Friday 1 and Saturday 2 April 2016 inclusive. The Panel ordered that the deposit be returned.

 
Charlie Mann and Matthew Bond

 

The Disciplinary Panel of the BHA held an enquiry on 24 March 2016 to consider whether or not Charlie Mann, a licensed trainer, had committed a breach of Rule (A)31.2 of the Rules of Racing in that so as to avoid any potential disciplinary action over having sent the incorrect horse to Fakenham on 20 December 2015, namely TANGO UNCHAINED rather than DUKES DEN (his runner in the sixth race), he had instructed his representative on the racecourse, Matthew Bond, to misleadingly inform the Stewards that TANGO UNCHAINED had been brought to the course not as a result of a mistake at the yard but deliberately as a companion for their other runner, AIRPUR DEBOIS (FR). Also, whether or not Matthew Bond had committed a breach of Rule (A)31.2 of the Rules of Racing in that he deliberately mislead the racecourse Stewards at Fakenham on 20 December 2015 by supporting Mann’s position that the horse he had brought to the racecourse was a companion for the stable’s other runner.

 

Charlie Mann attended the enquiry and was represented by Dawn Bacchus. Matthew Bond attended the enquiry and was represented by Phil Morris. The BHA’s case was presented by Lyn Williams.

 

The Panel noted that both Mann and Mr Bond admitted the charge and apologised sincerely for their actions. The Panel accepted the error was caused by a mistake at the yard. Mr Williams, on behalf of the BHA, and Ms Bacchus and Mr Morris, on behalf of their clients addressed the Panel on penalty.

 

Having considered the submissions the Panel found both Mann and Mr Bond in breach of Rule (A)31.2. The Panel fined Mann £1,500 and Mr Bond £250

 
Notes to Editors:

1. The Panel for the enquiries was: Lucinda Cavendish (Chair), Diana Powles, Edward Dorrell