Horse Racing: Johnny Murtagh had his controversial suspension reduced from seven days to four at the Turf Club yesterday but the jockey still won't be able to ride in Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Alamshar is on stand by to run in the Arc should anything happen to the Aga Khan-owned favourite Dalakhani but even if circumstances occur that will allow the John Oxx-trained colt run, Murtagh won't ride.
There was better news at the Turf Club's appeals and referrals committee for trainer Eddie Lynam who had his appeal against a €750 fine for using the racecourse as a training ground upheld. Dangle, the horse at the centre of the incident 10 days ago, also had her 42-day ban from racing lifted.
Dangle, ridden by Murtagh, finished fifth to Amalie Bay in the opening maiden at the Curragh on September 21st after making rapid progress in the closing stages. Lynam described himself as "relieved at having my name cleared" but was sympathetic to Murtagh.
"I feel he has been quite harshly treated. He admitted it was not one of his best rides and if he got days for every good ride he has given, then he would hundreds of days ahead," Lynam said.
He added: "I'm relieved at having my name cleared. The local stewards at the Curragh accused me of cheating and I felt that was a slur. The main thing now is that my filly will be able to run."
Lynam said: "The stewards gave out to me for sticking up for Johnny in the original inquiry. They've cautioned me for giving him the benefit of the doubt."
The committee said Lynam's appeal was upheld "on the basis that he changed his evidence from the original inquiry and said he was not satisfied with the ride."
With no flat racing in Ireland on Saturday, Murtagh will be able to ride at Longchamp where Sea Dart is a possible runner for John Oxx in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein.
Another possible Oxx runner in Paris on Sunday is Cruzspiel in the Prix Hubert de Chaudenay.
The Champion Hurdle second favourite Back In Front is on target to make his seasonal reappearance at Tipperary on Sunday.
Trainer Edward O'Grady confirmed the intention to run yesterday and Back In Front will face a formidable rival in Intersky Falcon, the winner last year of the John James Manus Memorial Hurdle.
"We are very happy with what he has done so far but we don't have longer term plans beyond Sunday at the moment," O'Grady said.
Back In Front hasn't run since being beaten a length by Quazar at Punchestown in early May having won the two-mile champion novice at the same meeting just four days previously.
The-six-year old was a brilliant 10-length winner of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March and is rated at 7 to 1 by Paddy Power to win hurdling's championship next March, behind the current title holder Rooster Booster (4 to 1.)
Intersky Falcon was unplaced in that Champion Hurdle but Jonjo O'Neill will send the gelding back to Tipperary to try and repeat his 2002 success in the Sunday feature.
There are no such firm plans for the other O'Grady-trained horse that figures in the ante-post betting for the Champion Hurdle.
The John Magnier-owned Ned Kelly, absent since last December, is a 20 to 1 shot with Powers for Cheltenham but O'Grady said: "He is still at Coolmore and at the moment there aren't any imminent plans for him."
Navan hosts an eight-race flat card this afternoon with the feature being the mile conditions race that looks to give the 108-rated Multazen a winning chance. Just a neck off Napper Tandy in a Stakes race at the Curragh last time, the Dermot Weld runner is well ahead on the ratings and should be up to coping with the Ballydoyle runner Some Kind Of Tiger.
