Trainer Pipe faces Jockey Club discipline

LONDON: Champion jumps trainer Martin Pipe is to face a Jockey Club disciplinary panel over the running of one of his horses at Exeter last year. Under a new move announced earlier in 2005, the hearing, set for February 17, could be the first in the Club’s 253-year-old history to be open to the press. Pipe, 14-time champion trainer, faces a fine of up to ?4,000 (US$7,471), jockey Jamie Moore could be banned for up to 28 days and the horse, Celtic Son, barred from racing for 40 days. The inquiry will look into the running and riding of Celtic Son in a race on October 19 when the horse, a 10-1 shot, finished fifth of 14, beaten by 12 lengths.

The panel will consider whether Pipe breached the rule on giving a rider instructions necessary to ensure a horse runs on its merits. Moore faces a similar charge covering the riding of the horse. After his Exeter run in October, Celtic Son finished eighth of 16 at Newbury before returning to Exeter on January 3 where he won a race. A Jockey Club statement said that “the marked improvement in form” had been referred to the Stewards. Five days later Celtic Son ran second at Uttoxeter and then won three races in five days, most recently last Saturday at Warwick. Chester Barnes, Pipe’s assistant, told the trainer’s website he was amazed by the Jockey Club’s decision.

“He was beaten six lengths (at Exeter) and I have watched the video and cannot see anything wrong with the way Jamie Moore rode the horse.” Barnes added: “When he won at Exeter on January 3 he was ridden by AP (Tony) McCoy and was stepping up to a trip of two miles six and a half furlongs (4.9 km) for the first time, which brought the improvement. “He was ridden exactly the same. The guvnor (Pipe) has done well to keep Celtic Son sound with all his problems.” Connections of the horse or others directly involved in the disciplinary hearing can submit written reasons why they feel it should be a closed inquiry.