Jockey hit with 21-day ban after causing “mayhem’ by steering onto wrong course
A young jump jockey was hit with a hefty 21-day ban after an incident which caused “absolute mayhem” at Ludlow on Thursday.
Daire Davis, a 22-year-old conditional jockey claiming 7lb, was riding 14-1 chance Faha Belle in an eventful 2m5f novices’ hurdle.
The favourite Baby Sage had already parted with her jockey at the first flight but there was a lot worse to follow.
The Fergal O’Brien-trained Faha Belle was travelling well and had taken up the lead as the field exited the final turn and approached the third last flight.
But then Faha Bella edged further to the right and went onto the wrong course . As Davis tried to make a correction, she hampered a horse causing her to stumble and unshiph her rider David Bass.
Jockey leaves fans gasping as simple error near finish line almost proves costly
Faha Belle then collided with the rail and bumped into another rival, resulting in Davis being thrown onto the Tom Bellamy-ridden mare before both jockeys hit the ground.
Commentator Martin Harris said: “Faha Belle was in the process of taking the wrong course. Kit’s Coty’s been hampered and that’s unseated the rider. Absolute mayhem off the home turn.”
No horses or riders were reported injured but the Ludlow stewards held an immediate inquiry.
David Bass hits the ground as Daire Davis unable to avoid Faha Belle (left) (RacingTV)Davis was found to have moved his mount right-handed onto the incorrect course causing Faha Belle to clip heels and unseat David Bass.
The stewards report said: “Having realised his error, Davis then manoeuvred his mount sharply left-handed, back onto the correct course and into a tightly grouped number of runners at the front of the field, whereupon his mount fell having gone through the island railing differentiating the chase and hurdle courses, resulting in Davis unseating onto Kit’s Coty, which further resulted in Bellamy unseating.
“Lesser interference was then caused to a number of runners in behind as a result of the fall of Faha Belle and the unseat of Bellamy.”
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