The group of National Hunt jockeys who attracted the un-wanted nickname of 'The Ludlow Seven' after taking the wrong course at the Shropshire track last month have successfully appealed against their nineteen day bans.

In a long and protracted hearing held last Wednesday at the Jockey Club in London, the Club's disciplinary panel reduced the penalties the seven had originally received at the track when they admitted passing a 'dolled-off' hurdle on the incorrect side, writes Graham Saveker.

At the hearing, the seven -- Marcus Foley, Timmy Murphy, James Davies, Paddy Brennan. Antony Evans, Gabriel Hannon and Mark Nicholls -- admitted passing the 'dolled-off' hurdle. However they contested the severity of the 12 day suspension for that offence and the further penalty for not pulling up which carried an additional seven days.

All of the seven had reduced bans ranging from 13 days down to three days and Jockeys' Association executive John Blake, who supported the jockeys in the appeal commented: "Everybody is pleased with the outcome and the revised punishments are more suitable for what amounted to professional mistakes, something anybody can do".

It was also announced that the Jockey Club is to review its instructions on by-passing procedures with its spokesman John Maxse announcing: "It is eight years since by-passing procedures were brought in and it was thought they would probably benefit from a review.

"To that end, course inspector Richard Linley has been chatting with Carl Llewellyn, the jockeys' safety officer and one of the Ludlow riders to take the correct route, about the current system and how we might be able to improve it."

Maxse stressed it still remains the responsibility of jockeys to know what to do in the event of an obstacle being by-passed.