O'Neill: Fakenham ban 'unfair'

Jonjo O’Neill has yet to decide whether to appeal against Prize Fighter’s disqualification from first place at Fakenham on Friday.

The local stewards threw out the winner, ridden by Noel Fehily and the runner-up, My Immortal, for going the wrong way round the final flight which had been dolled off.

Fehily and My Immortal’s jockey Rodi Greene were both suspended for 10 days and the race was awarded to the third past the post, Bayard.

Steve Goodwin, racing manager of Diamond Racing Limited – who own Prize Fighter – was left fuming immediately after the race.

He blasted the track for what he felt was its failure to make clear the final flight was to be omitted.

O’Neill told At The Races: “The two boys in front were having a race, heads down and driving on. There was also a car, a van or something causing an obstruction. I thought it was very unfair.

“I don’t know if I will appeal yet. I’ll have a chat with the owners. It’s just disappointing. Something has to be redone and organised to get it right.”