Ahern apologises for 'terrible mistake'

Eddie Ahern admitted he made a “terrible mistake” after riding a finish a circuit early at Lingfield.

The popular Irishman, who has ridden a total of 81 winners in this, his first season in Britain, picked up a 14-day ban after he made the error aboard 25-1 outsider Cool Bathwick in the two-mile Bet Direct In Running On Live Football Handicap.

Rushed into the lead after just three furlongs of the race and pushed out to the line, Ahern only realised his mistake after the finishing post when the rest of the field caught up and went past his mount.

The jockey’s confusion had been caused by the race starting from the same place as a six-furlong event.

But as he returned to the winner’s enclosure to a handful of catcalls, Ahern was quick to apologise for his actions.

“I hold my hands up,” he said. “It was a terrible mistake and there is no excuse for it.

“I want to apologise to the owner, the trainer and anybody who backed the horse.

“I have seen this kind of thing happen to other jockeys but I never dreamed it would happen to me.”

Ahern was punished with a 14-day ban by the Lingfield stewards for breaches of Rules 141(vii) and 156(ii) and will now be out of action from December 7-28 on dates where all-weather racing is scheduled to take place.

As a first offence the stewards are able to issue a penalty of between 10 and 14 days. A repeat offence would trigger a referral for a more serious punishment by the Jockey Club Disciplinary Committee.

The incident-packed race, which was won by favourite High Point, also saw Ziggy Zen and Martin Dwyer take a crashing fall half a mile out when clipping heels with a rival.

Fortuntely, horse and rider were both unscathed.

Jimmy Fortune was also in trouble with the stewards, picking up a two-day ban for irresponsible riding of a minor nature aboard Briery Mac in the Littlewoods Bet Direct AW Jockeys Championship Handicap.

He will be out of action on December 7 and 9.