Malone in hot water
Tom Malone, conditional jockey for champion trainer Martin Pipe, received a seven-day suspension when found in breach of the running and riding rules at Exeter.
Riding outsider Pyleigh Lady for Simon Burrough in the John Smith’s/EBF Mares’ Only “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle, Malone’s mount was soon well detached from the field and finished last of the 10 finishers – beaten about 60 lengths.
But the stewards inquired into the performance of the mare and found Malone to be in breach of Rule 158, in that he had failed to take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure the best placing.
Malone will be sidelined between March 18-24.
Burrough told the stewards that he “would have liked to have seen the mare in closer contention in the first half of the race”.
The stewards heard evidence from the handicapper present, BHB chief assessor Phil Smith, and from the vet who reported that she was found to be “lame on second examination”.
