Trainers backing Robbie Dunne on his return from a 10-month bullying ban believe it is time to move on from the scandal that rocked racing.
Gary Hanmer and Ian Williams give the jockey two of his three mounts at Hereford's fixture on Tuesday afternoon. Dunne has been suspended since December 2021 for his “deliberate, unwarranted targeting” of rival jockey Bryony Frost.
The ban, for his conduct between February 14 and September 3 2020, was reduced from 18 months on appeal. Dunne's last winner before an independent panel of the British Horseracing Authority ruled on the evidence was on Sir Tivo at Doncaster.
Hanmer trains the November 2021 scorer and has booked him for O'Grady's Boy in tomorrow's Cazoo Handicap Hurdle. The handler said Dunne is looking forward to his return and remains "hungry" for winners.
Referring to the case, Hanmer added: "We should move on – it's in the past. We can't do anything about it. Hopefully Robbie and Bryony can get on with the day job."
Dunne has been riding out at Hanmer's Chester stables once a week during his time on the sidelines. Frost, who made a successful comeback from injury on Zikany at Goodwood on Sunday, was the victim of Dunne's 'disgraceful' behaviour, according to the appeals panel.
Williams supplies Dunne's returning mount Ernesto earlier on the card and he said: "Robbie made a mistake and he has paid the price. He's entitled to get on with his career.
"He is an exceptionally good horseman and that's very important when you are a trainer."
