RACING NEWS ROUND-UPAIDAN O'BRIEN faces a fine of up to €12,630 and both John Murtagh and Colm O'Donoghue could receive suspensions running to 10 days each if found guilty in today's "team tactics" hearing at the British Horseracing Authority headquarters in London.
The controversial hearing takes place after O'Brien revealed yesterday that Duke Of Marmalade won't take up the option of running in the Breeders Cup Trial meeting at Great Leighs on Saturday and instead could take up his engagement in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after all.
"The forecast is favourable in France so he will either run in the Arc or got to Dundalk to run on the all-weather there," the champion trainer said. "We will decide next week when we have the latest on the ground."
Today's hearing surrounds last month's Juddmonte International at Newmarket which was won by Duke Of Marmalade after the O'Donoghue-ridden pacemaker Red Rock Canyon appeared to ease off the rails half a mile out leaving a gap though which Murtagh rode Duke Of Marmalade to win.
Both O'Brien, Ireland's champion trainer, and O'Donoghue, a classic winning rider, face charges under Rule 153 which relates to "team tactics". Murtagh has to attend under Rule 220 which relates to action prejudicial to the "integrity, proper conduct or good reputation of horseracing in Great Britain."
The stewards on race day at Newmarket took no action but the BHA announced today's hearing on the back of quotes attributed to Murtagh just after Duke Of Marmalade's success.
The Irish jockey was quoted: "I said to him (O'Donoghue) 'when you get to the four marker, just ease off and give me the passage through'. It's what Ballydoyle's all about."
The Juddmonte case following growing unease in Britain about the use of pacemakers by O'Brien especially after Haradasun's victory in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot where his stable companion Honoured Guest looked to also ease off the rail allowing Haradasun a clear run.
Technically, if Murtagh is found guilty, he reportedly could face a ban of up to three years but it's more likely he may receive up to 10 days suspension.
That is also the maximum penalty open to the BHA in regard to the charges against O'Donoghue.
If O'Donoghue is found guilty, O'Brien could be deemed guilty of an offence unless he is able to satisfy the stewards that he instructed the rider to treat every other horse in the race without favour.
The penalty open to the BHA is a fine ranging from €2,500 to €12,630. The standard fine is €6,300.
This case comes before an important weekend for the all-conquering Ballydoyle team whose dual-2,000 Guineas winner Henrythenavigator is set to be declared this morning for Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.
Henrythenavigator, also winner this year of the St James's Palace Stakes and the Sussex Stakes before being beaten on soft ground in the Prix du Moulin, is disputing favouritism for the QEII with the French star, Tamayuz.
O'Brien's mile star will mostly likely be joined in the race by Honoured Guest.
Rip Van Winkle is dominating ante-post betting ahead of Saturday's Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes but could be kept in reserve for a Group One target in the Prix Jean Luc Lagadere by O'Brien who nominated Indian Ocean and Set Sail as his most likely starters on Saturday.
The champion trainer has indicated that Masterofthehorse may be his standard bearer in Sunday's Group Two Juddmonte Beresford Stakes at the Curragh, a race he has already won nine times in his career.
Rip Van Winkle is also a Beresford entry but a more likely runner in the mile race is John Oxx's Sea The Stars while Jim Bolger has yet to choose between the Group Two option or the Parknasilla Hotels Goffs Million for his highly regarded colt Gan Amhras.
Paul Cole won last year's Goffs Million colts race with Luck Money and has confirmed that the York winner Cruikadyke will attempt a follow up on Sunday. Cole also plans to have a runner in the fillies Million, the Chepstow winner, Stan's Cool Cat.
Irish owner Bill Durkan landed the first fillies Million in 2006 with Miss Beatrix and will be represented in Sunday's race by Bailey's Cacao.
The Richard Hannon-trained filly ran sixth to Again in the Moyglare on her last trip to the Curragh but Hannon confirmed yesterday: "She's a really lovely filly and if the ground stays dry over the weekend she should run a great race."
