Trainer Ronan McNally disqualified from Irish racing for 12 years

Trainer Ronan McNally has been handed a 12-year disqualification from Irish racing by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board's referrals committee after he was found to have breached several integrity rules at a four-day hearing in October, including one charge of running and training his horses in a manner "prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct and good reputation of horseracing".

McNally has also been charged €50,000 in costs and been instructed to return over €13,400 in prize-money.

McNally was determined to be at least partially in breach of 10 of 11 alleged rule infringements, with the verdict announced in December ahead of sanctions being unveiled on Tuesday.

The trainer indicated at the time that he was"deeply disappointed and dissatisfied" with the decision and said he would "almost certainly" appeal the charges against him.

In handing down the penalty, which takes effect on 1 March, the IHRB said: "The committee regards the findings against Mr McNally as very serious.

"His offences strike at the integrity of the sport and the objective of having a level playing field for all who send horses out to race. They also involved a deception of the public, especially the betting public.

"The committee has taken into account the submissions made on his behalf and his past record and the effect that severe sanctions will have on him."

McNally has enjoyed notable success with Dreal Deal and The Jam Man in recent seasons, with the first-named landing the Grade Two Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle in 2021 and both notching up sequences of wins from lowly starting marks.

The pair were mentioned specifically in charges related to using the racecourse as a training ground, as well as not running on their merits, and both have been