Jockeys Johnny Murtagh and Colm O’Donoghue have been suspended from racing for a week and Aidan O’Brien charged a 5,000 pound fine for playing foul with the ‘team tactics’ rule of the Juddmonte International Stakes which the Duke of Marmalade had won last month at Newmarket.

It was the subsequent investigations stemmed by the British Horseracing Authority who had called into question the move made by O’Donoghue while riding Red Rock Canyon in the race.

The trio did not give any comment with this judgment that was passed in Central London on Thursday. However I have heard that the BHA public relations manage, Paul Struthers has mentioned that as the trio have a week from the receipt of the hearing to make an appeal, it was not right to comment on the proceedings of the day.

However he has also mentioned that the panel had made it clear when giving their judgment that the trio had no attempt to cheat. Their mistake was purely due to ignorance of the details of the rule they had violated.

I have learnt that since the dates for the suspension of the riders have not been declared as yet, both Murtagh and O’Donoghue are fit for participating in the Qatar Priz de l’Arc de Triomphe.