SATURDAY, 13 MARCH 2021 MURPHY=S RETURN FROM BAN DELAYED MARCIALIS ARRESTED; Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has had his return from a FACING CRIMINAL three-month riding ban delayed as he had not completed the requisite BHA testing in time to take up his booked rides on CHARGES Friday at Lingfeld. Early on Friday morning, Murphy announced via two tweets that he had been made aware of an "administrative error" which prevented his immediate comeback from a suspension after he tested positive for metabolites of cocaine when riding at Chantilly in July 2020. He said, "At 18.50 yesterday I was personally informed by the BHA due to an administrative error I will not be able to partner my rides at Lingfield today and Chelmsford on Saturday. I'm currently looking into this situation with the BHA and I plan to be back on the racetrack as soon as I possibly can. I apologise profusely to all the owners, trainers and supporters who I'm having to let down at such late notice.@ Cont. p2 Andrea Marcialis | Scoop Dyga IN TDN AMERICA TODAY THIS SIDE UP: RIVER LEVELS RISING Chris McGrath looks at the stories behind exciting 3-year-olds French-based trainer Andrea Marcialis, who on Wednesday Caddo River and Concert Tour, who face off in Saturday’s GII was handed three years and nine months in bans by France Rebel S. Click or tap here to go straight to TDN America. Galop in addition to the six months he is currently serving for running a shadow training operation, faces criminal charges after being indicted on Thursday on counts of organized gang fraud, equine doping and forgery. The 35-year-old Marcialis was one of 14 people arrested following a raid on Mar. 9 in which police seized doping products, i8,800 in cash and removed three racehorses from the premises. A press released issued by the office of the public prosecutor in Senlis late on Thursday said the indictment concerns at least 31 races in which allegedly doped horses were entered. The investigation into Marcialis by the Police de Jeux (France=s gaming police) was triggered last August by reports to France Galop that Marcialis was seen in the Saint-Cloud Racecourse car park with a syringe in hand. The investigation had been ongoing since October. After 48 hours in custody, nine of those arrested were arraigned before a judicial tribunal in Senlis on Thursday. Cont. p2 TDN EUROPE • PAGE 2 OF 7 • THETDN.COM SATURDAY • 13 MARCH 2021 Marcialis Arrested; Facing Criminal Charges cont. from p1 allegedly receiving corticosteroids three days out from racing. It The public prosecutor=s press release said some of those also encompassed the aforementioned Saint-Cloud syringe arraigned had been forbidden to work as trainers or vets, and incident, during which Marcialis was reported to have been that the main defendant was made to pay a deposit of carrying a 20ml syringe filled with a clear liquid in the Saint- i100,000 against possible future fines and damages, although Cloud parking lot. Marcialis=s two runners on that Saint-Cloud names were not specified. card were tested pre- and post-race, and though one came back The Italian-born Marcialis was granted a French trainers= positive pre-race, it was negative post-race. license in 2017 after working for his father Antonio Marcialis in Milan. His first group winner was the 2019 G3 Prix de Saint- Georges scorer Sestilio Jet (Fr) (French Fifteen {Fr}), and Murphy=s Return From Ban Delayed cont. from p1 Marcialis trained a first Group 1 winner last June when Way To Murphy added, AIt's 128 days since my last ride in the UK." Paris (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) took the G1 Grand Prix de A subsequent statement released by the BHA outlined the Saint-Cloud. Marcialis was handed a six-month ban last requirement for jockeys returning from a suspension of this kind December after France Galop stewards determined that he had to undergo a course of testing and to be confirmed safe to ride conspired with his sister, Elisabetta Marcialis, to run a shadow by the BHA's chief medical advisor. training operation in the name of 83-year-old trainer Jean- It read, "On 22 February Mr Murphy contacted the BHA about Claude Napoli, who they were said to have taken advantage of his intended return to race riding. The BHA liaised with him and and who has since died. Marcialis was on Wednesday slapped the PJA from this point onwards, including in regards to his with additional cumulative bans of three years and nine months testing requirements. by France Galop for four additional charges which involved "On 2 March Mr Murphy was reminded of the requirements medication violations and another shadow operation. The and that it is his responsibility to complete the necessary tests medication violations included six horses in his care allegedly before a return to riding. As of 12 March Mr Murphy is only part receiving injections between 48 and 72 hours before racing and way through his reinstatement testing and he is therefore without veterinary consultation or approval, and four horses unable to ride at this point." TDN EUROPE • PAGE 3 OF 7 • THETDN.COM SATURDAY • 13 MARCH 2021 Murphy=s Return From Ban Delayed cont. Murphy was handed his suspension by France Galop in late November just weeks after being crowned champion jockey in Britain for the second time. The ban was considered lenient for such an offence, which ordinarily would warrant a suspension of at least six months, but the France Galop stewards accepted a hair test and testimony from Murphy that he had not taken Senior Vice President Gary King cocaine himself but had been contaminated during an Twitter: @garykingTDN encounter with someone he subsequently discovered to be a [email protected] user. + 1.732.320.0975 As is usual practice, the ban was reciprocated by the BHA and the jockey was stood down from riding from Dec. 11 last year. It International Editor is understood that Murphy has completed three of the four Kelsey Riley urine tests required before he can race ride again. He responded Twitter: @kelseynrileyTDN to the BHA statement with a further message on Twitter. [email protected] He said, "Please note I can't arrange testing personally. Only the European Editor BHA have the ability to do so. I've been available and completed Emma Berry all the tests thus far." Twitter: @collingsberry Murphy is currently booked for three rides at Newcastle on [email protected] Tuesday. Associate International Editor Heather Anderson Twitter: @HLAndersonTDN Marketing Manager Alayna Cullen Twitter: @AlaynaCullen [email protected] Contributing Editors Alan Carasso Christina Bossinakis Cafe Racing Sean Cronin Tom Frary [email protected] Oisin Murphy | racingfotos.com Irish Correspondent Daithi Harvey Regular Columnists IRISH EBF BALLYHANE S. ATTRACTS BUMPER Chris McGrath | John Berry | Kevin Blake ENTRY Amy Lynam | Melissa Steele Following its successful inaugural running in 2020, the valuable Irish EBF Ballyhane S. has attracted an entry of 369 juveniles for its return on Aug. 2. With guaranteed prize-money of at least i200,000, the juvenile contest, which is run over six furlongs at Naas on the August Bank Holiday Monday, has understandably proved popular. It also offers a bonus of i50,000 if the winner is by a Ballyhane Stud stallion. TDN EUROPE • PAGE 4 OF 7 • THETDN.COM SATURDAY • 13 MARCH 2021 Irish EBF Ballyhane S. cont. DARK RAVEN TO BE OFFERED THROUGH "We are delighted to co-sponsor with the Irish EBF and have been thrilled with the response from a large variety of owners TATTERSALLS and trainers from Ireland and Britain," said Ballyhane Stud Dark Raven (Ire) (Malinas {Ger}), the current top-rated 4-year- owner Joe Foley. "Last year we had more than 400 entries and old bumper horse in Ireland, will be offered at the Tattersalls were able to stage a consolation race as well. There are fewer Online 23rd March Sale. Dark Raven was an eye-catching winner entries from Britain this year as a result of Brexit travel concerns of a National Hunt flat race at Leopardstown on Mar. 7 for Willie and Covid, but it's still a fantastic level of support. I think people Mullins and looks to be among the favourites for the i100,000 like the fact that the entry fees all go into the prize-money for Tattersalls Ireland George Mernagh Memorial Bumper at the main race and the consolation race." Fairyhouse on Apr. 4. He added, "We had positive feedback from the breeze-up The Tattersalls Online 23rd March Sale will be the third consignors last year who felt that it was a great selling point for conducted on the Tattersalls Online platform. Entries close on the horses with an entry, and that it helped to improve their Mar. 15 and the full catalogue will be revealed on Mar. 17. sales price. A lot of them have signed up again this year and eligible horses will be advertised in the breeze-up catalogues. Of course it's an even greater incentive to buy a 2-year-old by a THREE GRAND NATIONAL ENTRIES IN GOFFS Ballyhane sire as, if the race is won by a horse by Dandy Man, Elzaam or Prince Of Lir, the winning owner will receive around ONLINE MARCH SALE i200,000 with the bonus." Goffs has 68 confirmed entries for its Online March Sale on Last year's Irish EBF Ballyhane S. was won by Coolmore's Chief Mar. 24, including three horses with entries for the Randox Little Hawk (Air Force Blue), who scooped i149,200 of the total Grand National on Apr.