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Trainer Ronan McNally has been banned for 12 years and ordered to pay €50,000 in costs following an investigation and hearing by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board.
The IHRB referral committee found McNally guilty of several violations, including one charge of running and training horses in a manner that “undermines the integrity, fair conduct and good reputation of horse racing” after a four-day hearing in October.
McNally was found to have at least partially violated 10 of the 11 alleged violations, with the verdict announced in December before the sanctions were announced on Tuesday.
In handing down the sentence, which took effect on March 1, the IHRB said: “The committee considers the findings against Mr. McNally to be very serious. The offense attacks the integrity of the sport and aims to have a level playing field for all. Those who send horses to race, are also involved in deceiving the public, especially betting community.
“The committee has taken into account the submissions made on his behalf and his past record and the effect that heavy sanctions will have on him.”
McNally has had great success with Dreal Deal and The Jam Man in recent seasons, with the first landing in the Grade Two Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle in 2021 and both building on a string of wins from humble starting marks.
However, the pair were specifically cited for allegations related to using the racecourse as a training ground, as well as not running up to their standards, and both have been disqualified from previous victories.
Dreal Deal has lost in Navan in September 2020 and Limerick in October that year, while The Jam Man was disqualified from Limerick in September 2020.
Dreal Deal with Ronan McNally (left) and son Tiernan
McNally was considered to have achieved “a pattern of improvement in the horse’s form at a level previously unknown to any experienced and long-time handicap official”.
He was also found to have entered the ownership details of All Class, Full Noise and Petrol Head – with McNally admitting he was “aware of the requirement to register the correct ownership details”.
Another trainer, David Dunne, was found to have provided “misleading and/or false information to officials at a steward’s inspection” at Navan in March 2021 as well as failing to submit correct ownership details relating to the All Class handicap winners, Full Noise and Petrol Head, which all ran for him between October 2020 and August 2021.
Dunne’s license will be suspended for a period of two years, with the last 18 months suspended for a period of two years, and a fine of €5,000. Any prize money won by All Class, Full Noise or Gasoline Head while in Dunne’s care will also be forfeited to the disqualified horse.
Point-to-point handler Ciaran Fennessy was found guilty of three offenses and after taking into account mitigating factors, his license has been suspended for three years, with the last two years suspended for five years. He was also fined €5,000.
Jockeys Darragh O’Keeffe and Mark Enright were found to have failed to report a slow start for Dreal Deal when riding him in June and July 2020 and were recalled to their duties, while Eoin O’Brien was found to be in breach. of four charges, including that he schooled horses in public, and will serve a 21-day ban.
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