TURF CLUB APPEAL: THE GALWAY Plate-winning jockey Kevin Coleman had his record, 50-day "non-trier" ban reduced to 28 days at the Turf Club Appeals body yesterday.

There was a sting in the tail, with a €3,000 fine imposed on top of the 28 days, but Coleman will be able to ride at next week's Punchestown festival before the suspension starts.

Coleman's original suspension was the biggest handed out to a professional jockey in Ireland and was a result of his ride on Paul Kristian at Limerick a month ago.

The Liam Burke-trained horse finished a six-length runner-up to Let Yourself Go in a hurdle race on March 15th, after which the stewards imposed the ban under Rule 212 which deals with non-triers.

The only previous 50-day suspension in Ireland was handed out to the amateur Michael Purcell for his ride on Laetitia at Cork in 2005.

Coleman appealed to the Turf Club yesterday on the severity of his penalty.

"It is the best I could have hoped for," said the Co Cork-born rider, who won last year's Galway Plate on Sir Frederick, also trained by Burke.

"Obviously I'm not happy about the three-thousand fine, but I suppose they had to make a point."

He added: "I told them it won't happen again. It was more misjudgment on my part than anything else. But we all learn from our mistakes."

The three-person appeals body, which was chaired by Justice Ronan Keane, had discretion as to when Coleman will begin his 28-day ban, and they have cleared the way for him to be in action during the five days of Punchestown.

His suspension will begin on Sunday week when jump racing is due to take place at Gowran Park.

Following an inspection by Turf Club Officials at Tipperary yesterday the course was found to be unfit for racing ahead of the scheduled fixture there on Thursday, April 17th.

Another inspection will be held at 8.30 am tomorrow to see if the meeting can go ahead.