Balding to appeal over Ebor result

Toby Balding is to appeal against the decision of the York stewards to let Mephisto keep the totesport Ebor yesterday.

The Luca Cumani-trained Mephisto veered left towards Balding’s Gold Ring in the final furlong and delivered a slight bump before landing the race by a short head.

A lengthy stewards' inquiry followed but Mephisto was eventually confirmed the winner, with his rider Darryll Holland suspended for one day for careless riding.

Balding has made his decision after studying a tape of the race and consulting Gold Ring’s owner Bridget Swire.

“She is perfectly happy to accept whatever I think we should do, so we are going to appeal,” he said.

“Having seen the race recording I am sure an appeal is justified and I am confident we will be able to prove that the interference affected the result.

“Darryll Holland did nothing to correct his horse, for which the stewards gave him a one-day holiday, and had our horse not been there he would have ended up on the rail.”