Trainer supports besieged rider

Trainer John O'Shea has rallied to the support of jockey Paul O'Neill, who

has been under attack since head-butting the O'Shea-trained City Affair before a

race at Stratford, England, on Sunday.

"As far as I am concerned, Paul O'Neill is somebody I hold in high regard and

I think he is an up-and-coming jockey," O'Shea told the Racing Post. "I

have spoken to him and after seeing the video, he has admitted he was wrong, he

was very stupid, and I agree with him."

City Affair acted up in the parade ring and threw O'Neill to the ground. The

26-year-old rider grabbed the horse by the reins, pulling him close, and lowered

his helmet into City Affair. The Horseracing Regulatory Authority is conducting

an inquiry into the matter.

O'Shea believes the whole situation has been blown out of

proportion.

"There are pictures in the paper this morning of the horse nearly throwing

him on a car (when dislodging O'Neill), and I know deep-down that if (O'Neill)

had been seriously injured, it would have got no publicity whatsoever."

The conditioner said City Affair is fine and that he will continue to use

O'Neill aboard his horses.