Elsworth ready for appeal over 'non-trier' fine

14 April 2012

An irresistible force meets an occasionally movable object in Shaftesbury Avenue tomorrow when David Elsworth appeals to the Jockey Club over a £1,500 fine for failing to run Wavertree Boy on his merits last week.

The fiery trainer was incensed when the Taunton stewards ruled that Wavertree Boy, ridden by Richard Young, had breached rule 157 when staying on strongly into fourth on his jumping debut in the southwestracing.com Novices' Hurdle.

Elsworth told officials that the gelding was a keen sort who always comes from off the pace and that he had suffered leg problems in the past, but the panel ignored his explanation and followed up by banning Young and Wavertree Boy for 10 and 40 days respectively.

The incident left Elsworth determined to restate his case in what will be the first ever 'non-trier' appeal to be heard in front of the media.

And the case could be followed by another high profile appeal if Timmy Murphy decides to fight the seven-day ban he incurred for failing to obtain the best possible placing aboard Martin Pipe's Oasis Banus at Ludlow yesterday.

Murphy will consult his solicitor before making a final decision but was "frustrated and angry" today as he

reflected on a decision which promises to keep him on the sidelines for the Racing Post Chase and several other big races at Kempton next weekend..

"The horse was beaten more than 40 lengths, but they seem to be singling me out," he said.

Meanwhile, the stakes could hardly be higher for Philip Mitchell when the Juddmonte Farms stud manager faces the stewards over the Endless Summer saga tomorrow.

Mitchell has already admitted misleading his employer over the foaling date of Endless Summer, who was born on Boxing Day in 1997 but won the Grade 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood in 2000 after being falsely registered as a two-year-old rather than a three-year-old.

The panel will consider three options. The first is that Mitchell provided inaccurate information. The second is that he deliberately misled them, while the third and most serious, namely that he deliberately engaged in fraud, carries the threat of a possible 10-year ban from the sport.

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Elsworth ready for appeal over 'non-trier' fine

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