Marquand cleared by panel
A GLOUCESTERSHIRE jockey was cleared of wrongdoing in an enquiry into an incident which caused one of his weighing room colleagues to fall off their horse.
Tom Marquand was banned for nine days by the stewards following his ride on Ghepardo at Bath on May 15.
They found him guilty of careless riding which resulted in Moor over the bridge unseating Liam Jones in The Around the Paddock At valuerater.co. uk Fillies’ Handicap Stakes.
The British Horseracing Authority’s case, heard at their London headquarters was that Marquand had made a misjudgement in the contest over fiveand-a-half furlongs.
Marquand told the panel he sent his filly for a gap around two furlongs out, which did not cause interference.
However he stated soon after his mount changed her legs which caused her to go to the right, which he tried to correct.
After watching the race from different angles on video, the panel agreed he had taken steps to prevent the events which unfolded.
“The events which followed were very unfortunate but cannot, in our view, be attributed to the riding of Mr Marquand,” said a report.
“We also note that the video shows that Mr Marquand attempted to pull his filly to the left.
“Accordingly this appeal must be allowed and the interference, in our view, was accidental.”
Marquand, 21, said he was pleased to have succeeded in his appeal, as he thought the ban was unfair when it was handed out on raceday.
Another county Flat jockey, Kieran Shoemark, is permitted to apply for a new licence this week.
He has spoken emotively about his recovery for addiction, after he was banned at the end of last year following a failed drugs test.