Carberry banned for failed test

Grand National-winning jockey Paul Carberry has been banned for 30 days of racing in Ireland after failing an alcohol breath test for a second time.

The referrals committee of the Irish Turf Club also handed the 35-year-old, who won the 1999 Grand National on Bobbyjo, a 5,000 euro (£4,500) fine.

Carberry failed the latest test at Naas racecourse and will be banned from 25 November 2009 to 24 January 2010.

The first meeting he will be available for is Thurles on 28 January next year.

Trainer Noel Meade, who has Carberry among his stable jockeys, said the length of the suspension was severe.

"It seems pretty harsh, especially as it's during the time of the best Irish racing in January," said the County Meath handler.

"We'll just have to work our way around it."

Carberry won the Grand National in 1999 on Bobbyjo, who was trained by his father Tommy.

His brother Philip and sister Nina are both jockeys and have recorded victories at the Cheltenham Festival.

Paul Carberry is known for his skill in the saddle, but is no stranger to controversy.

In 2006, he narrowly avoided jail for setting fire to a newspaper on board a flight from Spain to Ireland.

The rider had been sentenced to two months behind bars in May for the air rage incident in October 2005 but was freed pending an appeal.

Follow regular Twitter updates from BBC racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght at http://twitter.com/CorneliusRacing

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