Hi °C | Lo °C Champion jockey Joseph O'Brien has lost his appeal against a three-day ban imposed on him by the Dundalk stewards for his ride on Massabini earlier this month.
The John Coleman-trained five-year-old led for a long way in the first division of the Winter Racing At Dundalk Handicap on February 8 before being headed in the final 100 yards by Denis Of Kerry, which went on to win by a length and three-quarters.
The Derby-winning rider was suspended for using his whip with excessive force and, having lost his appeal against the severity of the ban, will miss the meetings at the all-weather track on March 1, 8 and 15.
Steps To Freedom back in Dundalk
Champion Hurdle hope Steps To Freedom is among nine entries for the Crown Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Race at Dundalk on Friday.
Jessica Harrington's seven-year-old returned from a five-month absence to take a similar contest over an extended mile and a quarter there recently in impressive style.
Steps To Freedom, which is unsuited by testing ground, is the highest-rated horse in this contest, which would see him drop in trip to a mile.
His possible rivals include Captain Joy, Akasaka, Burn The Boats and Campanology.
Chapple-Hyam to face phone inquiry
Peter Chapple-Hyam, who trained Authorized and Dr Devious to win the Derby, must face a British Horseracing Authority inquiry after being charged with misleading an investigator and refusing to supply full and true phone records. A date for the hearing has not been set yet.
