Three jockeys fail breath tests at Newmarket

Francis Norton, Dane O'Neill and Sam Hitchcott all failed a random breath test at Newmarket and were prevented from riding for the day.

While Hitchcott had one mount, the others missed several, with one of O'Neill's set to be for the Queen.

The testing party, who work under the directive of British Horseracing Authority medical adviser Dr Michael Turner, appear at random at racecourses and test all jockeys in action at the meeting.

Stipendiary steward Geoff Forster explained: "The jockeys failed the breath analysis. They were given two tests and failed them both.

"The automatic steps that the stewards have to adopt are that they are suspended for the day and the matter is referred on to head office at Shaftesbury Avenue.

"I am informed they did not fail to a level whereby they would have to attend a personal inquiry in London.

"There is a certain level whereby if you are underneath that, it results in an inquiry held in your absence and I think you receive a caution. I believe all three were below that level."