O'Neill fined pounds 400

The trainer Jonjo O'Neill was fined pounds 400 and his jockey, Alan Roche, suspended for seven days for schooling and conditioning Princess Maxine in public at Hexham yesterday.

The mare had appeared to be tenderly handled when staying on to finish fifth in the novices' hurdle. Roche told the stewards that his instructions had been to drop the mare out in the early stages to ensure she got the trip.

O'Neill said he was satsified with Roche's riding, although he would have preferred him to have had the horse in a more prominent position.