Lucky Carberry gets of with a slap on the wrist!

Irish jockey Paul Carberry has 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.

Following a hearing in the Dublin District Court on Monday the case was dismissed.

Carberry has also been told to undertake voluntary work.

One of the suggestions raised in the court was that the top jockey give horse riding lessons to young people from the inner city.

The 32-year-old, from Tara, Co Meath, had pleaded not guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour likely to lead to a breach of the peace on the Aer Lingus flight.

But the trial judge described Carberry's evidence at the time as contrived.

He noted his testimony to the court had three important variations on the original statement he gave gardai in Dublin airport.

Carberry claimed setting the paper on fire was a freak accident.

The jockey was granted bail after paying 1,000 euros (£673) and was allowed to walk free from court, pending an appeal which was successful on Monday.

The Meath man was Irish champion jockey in 2002, when he became the first man since Charlie Swan in 1996/97 to ride a century of winners.

For all tonight's top Getminted racing tips please click on read more....



Front nine - 8:36 - 34/1

You know what they say - a change is as good as a rest - and new owners SirLad who picked up this young colt will be hoping he settles in quickly to his new virtual surroundings. Bought exactly a week ago in a claimer the 2 year old won once and has been placed in four of his eight competitive races to date. Offered at a huge price today he must be considered good enough to get a place given the average standard of his fellow competitors in the 8:36 race in England. This is arguably his favourite distance and going over which to run so expect fireworks from Front nine.

Shrewd Thing - 8:57 - 18/1

For the second tip in a row I'm backing a Sirlad trained colt. This time I think Shrewd Thing could be just that and finish in the top three at favourable odds.Bought from the Wirksworth Yard in a claimer two weeks ago the 2 year old black colt has one win and six placed finishes under his belt from ten runs. While he is prone to having a shocker he has the undisputed potential which if nurtured correctly will see him go a long way for the yard.

Astrometeorology - 9:36 - 9/1

In a hugely succesful career this amazing fillie has raked in almost £1,200 in transfer fees. The latest owner of Astrometeorology is sdownie who paid £474 for the 5 year old fillie back in January of this year. When you look at her stats its easy to see why this fine virtual animal is held in such high esteem. In 139 races shes won in 42 (30% win to run ratio) and has been placed in 55 (40% place to run ratio).Without a win since the 14th of September one is surely around the corner and if she runs well tonight she should do very well - solid each way contender.