Fitzgerald to appeal ban

Jockey Mick Fitzgerald today revealed he would definitely appeal against the 'very harsh' six-day ban which could force him to miss Newbury`s prestigious Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup meeting.

If he is unsuccessful, he would lose the plum ride on Marlborough in the feature race after being handed the ban for irresponsible riding of a major nature at Cheltenham on Sunday.

He was found guilty after his mount Surprising went across Telemoss, causing that horse to almost come down, after the third last of the Jockeys Employment & Training Scheme Hurdle landed by See You Sometime.

He is out of action from November 27 to December 3. The Hennessy is on December 1.

Fitzgerald said today he had made his decision after taking legal advice this morning.

'We are definitely going to appeal. I am very hopeful. We are looking at re-runs of the race because there might be mitigating circumstances.

'The Hennessy is a big meeting for us but it`s not only that. I feel six days was very harsh, considering my previous disciplinary record.

'I am hoping for a good hearing. I know Portman Square is fair and I will hope for the best.'

Fitzgerald has missed the Hennessy meeting twice before in the past, once through injury and once through suspension.

He claims that irresponsible riding, from his reading of the rules, was when a rider deliberately made a move that showed no regard for his fellow riders _ and he believed that was not the case on this occasion.

Stewards` secretary Tony Gillam said after the race: 'The stewards found that Mick Fitzgerald had made a manoeuvre to his left after the third last flight and he interfered with Telemoss, causing him to clip heels and nearly come down.

'The placings of the two horses get reversed automatically and five days is the minimum for irresponsible riding of a major nature and he got six because of the seriousness of what happened.'

See You Sometime held off Surprising in a driving finish with Telemoss recovering to be third. However, the placed horses were reversed after the stewards` inquiry.