Jockeys ‘deeply unhappy’ at false start enquiry

Grand National day at Aintree ended in revolt as 39 of the 40 jockeys took the decision not to re-enter the stewards’ room for an enquiry into the false start that the delayed the beginning of the race and saw assistant starter Simon McNeill knocked down by a horse.

The one jockey not involved was Brendan Powell as his mount, Battle Group, refused to start. An initial enquiry took part directly after the race and was attended by most of the jockeys involved, with AP McCoy acting as their spokesman. However, when the enquiry was reconvened after the final race the jockeys refused to participate.

As a consequence, the entire incident has now been referred for a full hearing at British Horseracing Authority (BHA) headquarters in London, at which the 39 riders may face further punishment for refusing to participate in the enquiry.