Sheehan looking forward to another big weekend as ban overturned

Adam Morgan
December 7, 2023 5:38 pm

Jockey successfully appealed suspension and now looks to follow up Coral Gold Cup win.

Gavin Sheehan could be set for another Saturday in the spotlight having successfully appealed the 14-day ban he received at Huntingdon last month.

The 31-year-old was riding Lucy Wadham’s Zain Nights when the raceday stewards deemed the jockey failed to ask his mount for a “timely, real and substantial effort to obtain the best possible placing”.

Zain Nights and Wadham also incurred the wrath of the stewards with the gelding receiving a 40-day ban and his handler fined GBP 3,000 for schooling and conditioning the horse on a racecourse.

Jockey Gavin Sheehan after winning the Coral Gold Cup (Steven Paston/PA)

However, at a hearing on Thursday an independent panel ruled in favour of both Sheehan and Wadham with their respective punishments quashed.

“It was something I didn’t think was ever going to happen, I felt the ride was good on the day and everything,” said Sheehan.

“But, it’s come this far and I’m delighted that we got the right result.”

The result of the hearing allows Sheehan the chance to build on the brilliant season he is enjoying alongside trainer Jamie Snowden and having partnered the Folly House handler’s Datsalrightgino to a famous Coral Gold Cup victory last weekend, has another pair of high-class operators waiting in the wings at Sandown.

Big celebrations for Gavin Sheehan having guided Datsalrightgino to Coral Gold Cup glory pic.twitter.com/LLQsRJGIYN
— Adam Morgan (@Adam_Morgs) December 2, 2023

The Irishman can now look forward to linking up with his Cheltenham Festival heroine You Wear It Well as she challenges Constitution Hill in the rearranged Fighting Fifth Hurdle, while he will also take the reins aboard highly-touted novice chaser Colonel Harry in the Betfair Henry VIII Novices’ Chase.

“Obviously I had a brilliant weekend last weekend and I’m now hoping for another one this weekend,” continued Sheehan.

“Things are going great and Jamie is definitely a trainer that is progressing and all it is is getting better horses. Better horses make life easier and he’s got them.

Gavin Sheehan celebrates winning The bet365 Mares' Hurdle on You Wear It Well — Gavin Sheehan celebrates winning at Wetherby on You Wear It Well (Nigel French/PA)

“It’s exciting that we’ve got Datsalrightgino who has just come out and won the Coral Gold Cup, but now we’ve got a contender for the Fighting Fifth and the Henry VIII.

“Things are going well and I know better than anyone that this game is a rollercoaster and things are going great now, but you can get put back down pretty quick.

“I’m just enjoying it at the moment, that’s what I’m trying to do, and trying to keep the ball rolling. You can’t take the foot off the gas now. Last week was brilliant, but that’s in the past now and I have got to look forward to my one ride tomorrow and doing my best on that and then look forward to Saturday.”