Hefty Ban For Irish Amateur Amateur rider Michael Purcell was hit with a 50-day suspension and a ?2,000 fine by the stewards at Cork on Sunday. Controversy followed division one of the Coolmore Brian Boru (Pro-Am) INH Flat Race in which trainer Charles Byrnes saddled the first two home. The winner, Alpha Royale, was the shortest of the pair in the betting at 7-1 but it was Purcell´s riding of the runner-up Laetitia that attracted all the attention. He looked to be travelling at least as well in behind his rival but did not appear to ask his mount for maximum effort and went down by a length. The inquiry into the race was delayed until after the last race - in which Purcell gave up his ride on Byrnes´ Bosco´s Tune - and lasted some 75 minutes, after which it was found there had been a breach of Rule 212 which deals with taking all reasonable and permissible steps to obtain the best possible placing. Laetitia was banned from running for 60 days but Byrnes´ explanation that he was not satisfied with the ride given by Purcell was noted by the stewards and no further action taken. ? PA Sport
