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BHA disqualifies trainer Jim Best for four years, bans jockey Paul John for 150 days

The British Horseracing Authority disqualifies trainer Jim Best for four years, while jockey Paul John is hit with a 150-day ban.

The British Horseracing Authority has disqualified trainer Jim Best for four years and banned jockey Paul John for 150 days after both breached rules in relation to the running and riding of two horses in December 2015.

The pair were found guilty by the governing body's disciplinary panel last month after Echo Brava and Missile Man failed to place in races at Plumpton and Towcester respectively.

Best and John were accused of failing to ensure that the horses ran on their merits, and now both will have to serve suspensions.

In the written reasons for the sanctions, the panel stated that Best "has forfeited the right to enjoy the privilege of being a licensed trainer for a significant period of time.

"The panel is mindful of the wider effects any period of disqualification will have on the owners who have horses with Best and the staff who rely upon Best for employment but that does not override the panel's concern to appropriately censure Best.

"He is a dishonest individual who corrupted a young man to ensure horses were not run on their merits."

With regards to John, the panel initially selected a 300-day ban, but it was reduced after taking into consideration additional information.

The panel wrote: "Having assessed John's co-operation and the provision of information enabling action to be taken against Best have deemed that John should be entitled to the full reduction of one half.

"John's penalty for the rides at Plumpton and Towcester will be a period of 150 days during which time he will be ineligible to apply for a licence. The Panel has also considered when the penalty should commence.

"In the panel's view it would be apposite and fair in all the circumstances for the penalty to commence at the point John removed himself from Best's yard - in effect he imposed a suspension upon himself at this point. John will therefore be ineligible to apply for a licence for 150 days from December 21, 2015 to May 19, 2016 inclusive."

The race involving Echo Brava took place on December 14, while Missile Man raced on December 17.

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Danielle Joynson
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