Punters’ fuming as jockey given ‘harsh’ ban for ‘failing to ride for the best possible placing’ after 10th placed finish

PUNTERS were fuming after a conditional jockey was given a 14-day ban for ‘failing to ride for the best possible placing’.

Conditional jockey Beau Morgan finished tenth and was beaten over eighteen lengths on 22-1 shot Champagnesuperover in a handicap chase at Bangor on Wednesday 13.

Most punters felt Morgan had been treated harshly

Beau Morgan has been given a 14-day ban for 'failing to ride for the best possible placing' after finishing 10th aboard Champagnesuperover at Bangor today…

Morgan reported his instructions were to make a late challenge and his horse had made a respiratory noise… pic.twitter.com/SNJBzDLfDM
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 13, 2024

The 5lb claimer, who was riding for Olly Murphy, said his instructions were to make a late challenge, but during the race his horse had begun to make a respiratory noise.

The young jock has had three winners from 46 rides this season, but now has to endure a two-week spell on the sidelines after a stewards’ inquiry.

The report said: “Champagnesuperover began to make both steady and eyecatching progress under sympathetic handling and Morgan justified his apparent lack of effort, by reiterating the fact that the gelding is a weak finisher, and it was his intention to get there as late as possible for this reason, but on this occasion having jumped the last fence the gelding emptied out again.

“Morgan reported that his instructions were to ride Champagnesuperover with restraint and to get there late.

“Having become aware of the respiratory noise, Murphy continued that he was satisfied with the ride and that he would have the gelding seen by a vet regarding its respiratory issue.

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“Morgan was suspended for 14 days for failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race, in that he had failed to ride his mount in such a way that he could be seen to ask for timely, real and substantial effort to obtain the best possible placing.”

Punters believed he had been treated harshly by the stewards, especially as the horse never looked like he had a hope of winning.

They took to X, formerly known at Twitter, to vent their frustration.

One said: “That horse looked exhausted.”

And another added: “Seen an awful lot worse on a daily basis, horse couldn’t possibly have won, was hardly making ground hard held and they all finished in a heap.”

Another added: “If you were Beau, you’d feel hard done by. It happens a lot and regularly goes unpunished.”

Although some punters thought the bans was spot on.

One said: “This happens in most races. Why are these bans not more common?”

Another added: “He made right stones of that.”