Maguire to appeal ban

Meath jockey Jason Maguire will appeal against a seven-day ban that was imposed last week. The ban will rule him out of the ride on Champion Hurdle contender Peddlers Cross at Cheltenham next month and the appeal will be heard this Thursday. The Kilmessan jockey will be represented at the British Horseracing Authority hearing by Graeme McPherson QC, with Rory Mac Neice acting as his solicitor. Maguire had been looking forward to partnering the unbeaten six-year-old in the big race on Tuesday 15th March. However, he incurred a suspension last week at Doncaster following his ride on Cool Mission which finished second to Beshabar in the three-mile beginners' chase on Wednesday. The seven-day ban will be effective from Wednesday 9th to Tuesday 15th March, but the Kilmessan jockey may succeed in either getting the ban over-turned or reduced. Noel Meade's Cheltenham Gold Cup hopeful Pandorama, which is owned by Kinnegad man Robert Bagnall, led a team of seven horses from the Castletown stable in some racecourse work at Leopardstown on Monday morning. Meade expressed his delight at the way the exercise went, and is particularly looking forward to running Pandorama in the big race on Friday 18th March. Barry Geraghty gave Big Zeb a schooling session over six fences at the Foxrock track for trainer Colm Murphy ahead of a bid to retain the Champion Chase crown on Wednesday 16th March. Dunshaughlin teenager Keith Donoghue, who was a nominee for the Meath Chronicle / Cusack Hotels 2010 young sportsperson of the year award, added to his tally of winners for the season at Navan on Saturday. Donoghue partnered the Francis Flood-trained Wicklow Lad to victory in the Leinster Handicap Chase. Robbie Power was also on the mark for trainer Colm Murphy with The Hard Hat while trainer Gordon Elliott was flying high when Tharawaat won a novice chase for owner Michael O'Leary. Ashbourne jockey Andrew Lynch combined with trainer Michael O'Hare to win the Garlow Cross Handicap Hurdle with Arctic Mick on Friday which will now go to Downpatrick for the Ulster national this Wednesday. Elliott was also on the mark when Paul Carberry scored with Final Victory while Gift Of Dgab won the Nobber Maiden Hurdle for trainer Tony Martin and jockey Davy Russell after finishing second on his last four starts. Barry Geraghty was on the mark at Fairyhouse last Wednesday when the won the 'Read Barry Geraghty's blog on attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle' for Kilmessan man Adrian Maguire with Good Time Donie. Only five of the 10 runners finished with two fallers, an unseated, brought down and one that pulled up. Maguire, who is based in Cork, suggested that the winner could make an impact over fences. Paul Carberry moved into joint-third in the jockeys' table with his 56th winner of the season when Arabella Boy edged out odds-on favourite Ballymak in the beginners chase. The winner could go to Cheltenham for trainer Enda Bolger. Lady Jennifer Fowler sent out a winner also when Good Egg gave an impressive display from the front in a hunter chase for owner Daisy Duggan.