Winston considers appeal options
Robert Winston is considering lodging an appeal against the five-day ban he was handed at Kempton that rules him out of the important Craven Meeting.
Winston was found guilty of careless riding aboard Prime Recreation in the intercasino.co.uk Banded Stakes after switching the 12-1 chance to the inside rail from an unfavourable-looking draw.
The stewards considered that Winston had “allowed his horse to go across to the rail when not sufficiently clear without taking any measures to prevent it”.
They ruled that the placings had not been affected but suspended Winston from April 16 to 20 inclusive and left the rider mulling an appeal.
“I’m not saying that I would have had any big rides at Newmarket but it is annoying to miss out on the whole meeting when there would have been some good spares on offer,” he said.
“The horse has a history of diving to the right and there was nothing I could have done about it today.
“He had done it even before we got to the marker poles and I couldn’t stop him. I’ve pointed this out to the stewards but they don’t seem to have taken it into consideration.
“If I’d got two days then I’d have taken it but five seems a bit harsh and I will certainly be having a good look at the video and thinking about an appeal.”
Prime Recreation was being reeled in towards the finish but had done enough to hold on to score by a length from Forest Dane.
“He’s still got some early boot and he loves having a rail to race against on his right-hand side. He won here three years ago on the turf when George Duffield did exactly the same thing,” said winning trainer Paul Felgate.
Justcallmehandsome showed improved form for a lady’s touch when causing a 50-1 turn-up under Donna Caldwell in the Play Blackjack At intercasino.co.uk Banded Stakes.
After seeing the four-year-old make every yard to score by half a length from Good Article, trainer Dominic Ffrench Davis admitted to having backed the winner on his previous start but not here.
“He had gone well for Donna and for Ann Stokell before but I decided to put a top jockey on last time at Southwell and booked Eddie Ahern,” he explained.
“But when Eddie came back he said that he wouldn’t go a yard for him so I put Donna back on today and stepped him up to a mile and a quarter because I hoped that he might appreciate the slower pace. He doesn’t like being boxed in.”
Neil Callan, who rode third-placed Busy Man, was suspended for two days (April 16 and 17) for careless riding in the final stages.
Carlton Scroop (20-1) put a disastrous attempt at hurdling behind him when taking the intercasino.co.uk Tri-Banded Stakes under Shane Kelly.
The three-year-old showed a better turn of foot than his rivals to sprint clear in the final stages for a three-and-a-half-length verdict over favourite Monte Major.
Trainer Jonathan Jay, whose star hurdler Tidal Fury is being prepared for a tilt at the Grade One Prix Alain du Breuil at Auteuil in June, was delighted to see an improved performance from the hitherto-disappointing gelding.
“We always say there is a race for every horse but hopefully there might be more than one for this chap because we have just been waiting for the penny to drop with him,” he said.
“We took him to France for a spin over hurdles like we do with a few of our disappointing horses and it didn’t go well, but he is certainly a gorgeous-looking horse and he quickened up well today.”
On a busy day for the stewards, Kevin Ghunowa received a one-day ban (April 16) for not riding to his draw aboard Titus Wonder in the intercasino.co.uk Maiden Stakes.
Robert Havlin, who rode fourth-placed Spanish Music in the same race, was found guilty of careless riding and received the same punishment.
Dane O’Neill, who finished second aboard Lysander’s Quest in the closing Win At intercasino.co.uk Banded Stakes, collected a two-day ban for careless riding (April 16 and 17).
