Amateur rider James Ridley has been handed a 28-day ban for losing a race when he mistook the winning post at Newbury in a jumps race.
Lookslikerainted, a 33-1 chance, appeared to have seen off main challenger Duke Of Lucca when that one departed at the last, and Ridley was poised to register a rare winner.
But passing the pole to signify there was half a furlong (100m) to run, Ridley began to ease his mount down and Triangular (100-30), under Ben Godfrey, finished strongly along with Ballytober, and both sped past Ridley leaving him to finish third.
At the resulting inquiry, Ridley suggested the half-furlong pole had caused the problem, with the stewards ruling he was guilty of failing to ride out on a horse that would have finished first.
Lookslikerainted’s trainer, Martin Wilesmith, took it in good spirit.
“Listen, obviously I’m a little upset but compared to what happened on Westminster Bridge the other day it is absolutely nothing,” Wilesmith said.
“Nobody has died so we’ll just look forwards. James has apologised.”
Ridley, 27, offered his apologies on Twitter, saying: “Completely gutted for misjudging the winning post today! Sorry for everyone involved #nobodymoreangrythanmyself”.
Watch the video:
An absolute nightmare by James Ridley! He won't want to watch this one back…pic.twitter.com/V4vszrr7Fl
— BETDAQ (@BETDAQ) March 24, 2017
