Will the revised timing of the hearing possibly cost Seb the title? :suspect: I hope the hearing at least results in giving back Seb's disqualified win at Newmarket last Friday.
Courtesy of The Racing Post
Makin appeal could have pivotal bearing on outcome
by Bruce Jackson
.
THE appeal hearing which could have a pivotal bearing on the outcome of this season's enthralling jockeys' title race has been scheduled for 7am on Thursday.
The BHA's move to arrange such an unusually early start in London is intended to allow Jamie Spencer to ride at Musselburgh in the afternoon.
His title rival Seb Sanders, aiming to take his 'disqualified' winner at Newmarket last Friday back off Spencer, had already opted not to ride in Scotland before Tuesday's confirmation of the appeal-hearing time.
BHA officials suggested on Tuesday that Spencer could be out of their offices by 7.30am, as he has only to give evidence and is not required to wait for the panel to give their verdict.
Sanders revised his crucial last-week schedule to take in Nottingham on Monday, in the expectation of a traditional 10.30am start at Shaftesbury Avenue.
The title chaser was philosophical on learning that he could, after all, have had the option of riding at Musselburgh on Thursday within the nine-meetings-a-week stipulation.
Sanders said after closing the gap to two with his 183rd winner of the year at Lingfield on Wednesday, Desperate Dan: "I'll take it on the chin. Whatever happens will happen.
"It's another early morning but I think it is only fair to Jamie and myself and at least the matter will be decided before the end of the season.”
Trainer Peter Makin lodged his appeal with the BHA on Wednesday, and Thursday will mark the first appeal in his 40-year career.
It follows an incident at Newmarket, where the Makin-trained Classic Descent, ridden by Sanders, was demoted to second by the stewards, in favour of the Spencer-ridden second-past-the-post Black Raid.
The stewards deemed that Sanders had accidentally interferedwith Spencer's mount, which cost the latter the race.
Sanders has 11 rides in his double-up stint at Nottingham and Kempton on Wednesday as Spencer sits out the second day of his two-day suspension.
Paddy Power and VCbet make Sanders 5-4 to ride two to three winners. They go 6-4 one winner and 7-2 about four or more.
Explaining Thursday's timing of the appeal hearing, BHA public relations manager Paul Struthers said: "It's not a decision we took lightly. It's been years since such a thrilling climax to the season and it simply wasn't acceptable to allow the possibility of the jockeys' championship to be decided by the disciplinary panel after the conclusion of the turf season.
"We are conscious of the inconvenience to both jockeys, and we apologise for that, but we hope they and the public understand and appreciate the decision we have come to in opting for a 7am start.
"While the outcome of the appeal will obviously have some impact on who will be champion, at least now the action will culminate where it should - on the track - and we wish them both the very best of luck."
