McCurtin gets early wedding present after successful appeal of ‘non-trier’ charge

On Friday jockey Ambrose McCurtin celebrated both getting married and winning his appeal against a 14-day ‘non-trier’ ban picked up on No Memory at the Listowel festival.

In a controversial case described as “scandalous” by the horse’s trainer, Liam O’Brien, No Memory was suspended from racing for 42 days, while O’Brien himself was fined €2,000, after finishing third in a hurdle race at 100-1.

The penalties were widely criticised with suggestions it smacked of the authorities coming down hard on connections that aren’t high-profile.

McCurtin and O’Brien’s appeal on the basis that the Listowel stewards got it wrong was heard on Thursday and resulted in all penalties being overturned.

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It means No Memory and McCurtin can line up in a Listed Hurdle at Limerick on Sunday.

It will make for an unusual honeymoon for the jockey who married Niamh Doyle, daughter of trainer Tim Doyle, in Killenard, Co Laois on Friday.

No Memory will again be a long-shot in the Cailin Alainn Hurdle which sees the return to action of the Cheltenham festival winner, Mrs Milner.

Limerick's Sunday feature though is the JT McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National where topweight Chatham Street Lad would be a popular winner for trainer Mick Winters.

At the other end of the handicap is one of two Willie Mullins hopes, Sapphire Lady.

She disappointed against a number of this opposition at Listowel last time but on testing ground conditions every pound will count and her best form puts her in the mix of an ultra-competitive contest.

Jump action returns at Fairyhouse on Saturday where Ambitious Fellow will have the assistance of Derek O’Connor in the bumper.