Derby-winner Dwyer faces inquiry after mob fury at ride on favourite Ice Age in India

Derby-winning jockey Martin Dwyer faces a disciplinary hearing in India on Sunday after accusations he prevented a favourite winning last weekend, causing him to flee an angry mob.
The outcome of the hearing in Mumbai could have serious ramifications for Dwyer back in Britain as fellow jockey Richard Hughes found last year.

Disciplinary hearing: Dwyer

He picked up a 50-day ban in India which was reciprocated by the British Horseracing Authority under an agreement between national racing bodies.
Dwyer, 37, needed security protection to return to the weighing room and a police escort to leave the track after riot, with racegoers demanding the race was voided, followed his third place on 6-4 favourite Ice Age in the final race at Mahalaxmi racecourse.
As Ice Age hung to her right in the closing stages, Dwyer appeared to pull her away from horses to her inside, a move some interpreted as preventing her doing her best.
It is understood Dwyer will claim at the enquiry that his actions were in part caused by Ice Age breaking a blood vessel.
Last year the Liverpool-born rider was a hero in India for his partnership with Derby-winning filly In The Spotlight. He is currently in Dubai to ride her before returning to Mumbai for his disciplinary hearing.
Witness reports suggest the jockey was held for three hours in the racecourse administration room as a mob of around 600 threatened to stab him.
Pradyumna Singh, Royal Western India Turf Club chief stipendiary steward, told the MumbaiMirror.com: ‘Martin Dwyer’s riding, prima facie, appeared doubtful following which the stewards declared Ice Age a non-starter and all bets on this horse were refunded.
‘The club’s stewards have further asked us to immediately initiate an inquiry into this incident and, if possible, to submit them the report next Sunday.’
Jockey suspensions in India are far stricter than in Britain. Hughes received his 50-day ban last year for ‘Foul Riding’ after elbowing a fellow jockey, a far less serious offence than that facing Dwyer.
The Willie Mullins-trained On His Own is the 8-1 favourite for the John Smith’s Grand National following his victory in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan.