Moore to appeal Cheltenham ban
Jamie Moore is planning to appeal against the eight-day suspension that rules him out of all four days of the Cheltenham Festival.
The jockey was found guilty of improper riding at Plumpton on the unplaced Running Hot in the Southern FM Novices’ Handicap Chase.
The stewards were not impressed by the way Moore blocked Liam Heard and The Hardy Boy from coming up his inside on the final back straight and under Rule 153 he is suspended from March 9 to 16 inclusive.
A disappointed Moore said: “It’s a bit harsh and I will appeal. It was just race-riding. You don’t let people up your inside.
“Even if it was just four days and not Cheltenham, I’d still appeal as it is the principle.”
Stewards’ secretary Terrence Brennan confirmed: “Liam Heard had the horse and space to make the challenge and had every right to go there as there was plenty of room.
“We heard from both jockeys and Jamie Moore appeared to look to his left and ride purposefully towards the other horse, tightening up Liam Heard for a considerable amount of time.
“The recommend period for the offence is for between five and 10 days and the stewards felt eight days was appropriate.”
The race, down to eight obstacles instead of 14 with the final two fences in the home straight dolled off due to unsafe ground, eventually went to You Do The Math.
