Stewards punish Ellison and Ffrench

Malton trainer Brian Ellison was hit with a £2,000 fine and his jockey Royston Ffrench banned for 14 days over the running and riding of Everest in the toteplacepot Handicap at Ripon today.

Everest was held up in the one-mile contest before being ridden along in the straight.

The eight-year-old stayed on but could make no impression on the leaders inside the final furlong and finished sixth of the eight runners, beaten five and a quarter lengths.

The local stewards took a dim view of events and punished the trainer and rider as well as banning the gelding from running for 40 days (June 14 to July 23 inclusive).

They interviewed both Ellison and Ffrench.

The jockey stated that his orders had been to try and jump off with the field as the gelding had been slowly away from the stalls recently, and to ride him for the best possible placing.

However, after jumping off on terms he was outpaced and therefore unable to stay as near the pace as he would have liked. In addition, he felt Everest was unsuited by the fast ground.

The trainer confirmed those instructions, stated that he was satisfied with the ride given, and considered the gelding to be unsuited by the ground, which in his opinion, was riding faster than stated.

The stewards found the rider in breach of Rule 157, the ‘non-trier’ rule, and deemed the trainer to be in breach of Rule 155 (ii), which deals with giving the necessary instructions to ensure a horse runs on its merits.

Anthony Gillam, the stipendiary steward, explained: “We felt that the horse was allowed to drop out too far in the early stages of the race and although the rider made an effort from about four and a half to two and a half out, thereafter we felt the gelding was tenderly handled and not asked for sufficient effort.

“For the breach, the penalties are the minimum.”

Ffrench, who is banned from June 22 to July 5, intends contesting the stewards’ decision.

Before dashing off to ride at Leicester, he said: “I’ll have to have a talk with Mr Ellison, but my personal view is that I’m going to appeal against my suspension.”