Trainer Charles Byrnes was fined & euro;2,000 after his Grade One-winning hurdler Pittoni finished fourth in the Listowel Races Supporters Club Slan Abhaile (Q.R) Race.

Byrnes was found guilty of using the racecourse as a schooling ground for Pittoni, who was in rear in the early stages before finishing to good effect.

As well as Brynes being fined & euro;2,000, jockey Derek Fox was banned for seven days and Pittoni was banned from running for 42 days.

An angry Byrnes intends to appeal and said: "I did not stop that horse today and will appeal without a shadow of a doubt.

"I was happy with the ride he received and a more experienced rider would have sat up on him a lot earlier. Pittoni is a one-paced horse and his rider was pushing him out the whole way."