TRAINER Alan Swinbank was fined £5,000 and his conditional rider Thomas Thompson was suspended for 21 days on Tuesday over the running and riding of Ignotus, who finished second in the first division of the TurfTV Novices' Hurdle.
Returning from a racecourse absence of 879 days and sent off at 33-1, Ignotus travelled smoothly through the race and looked a real threat to the favourite and eventual winner Andytown from the second-last flight as the pair came clear of the remainder of the field.
But Thompson, an inexperienced 10lb claimer, provided only token assistance to his mount and, even though still level with the winner at the final flight, he did little to rouse Ignotus, who went down by three-and-a-half lengths.
The stewards interviewed the trainer and the rider and came to the conclusion that Swinbank was in breach of Rule 155 (ii) and Thompson to be guilty of Rule 157 (f), which covers using the racecourse as a schooling ground and horses not being ridden to obtain the best possible placing. They also banned Ignotus from racing for 40 days.
Swinbank was fuming at the outcome. He said: “I can't believe it. I shall take advice from the National Trainers' Federation before deciding whether I'm going to appeal.
"For me, the horse has run a marvellous race after such a long lay-off, but he was beaten at the last, anyway. But I wouldn't argue that the lad, even though I told him not to hit the horse, should have done more on him in the last six furlongs of the race. And that's what Itold the stewards. And yet still they've fined me £5,000. It should have been the lad who got the £5,000 fine. What am I supposed to do. Once I let these horses out on to the racecourse, there's nothing more I can do. I want 33-1 winners, if at all possible.”
However stipendiary steward Adrian Sharpe said: “We felt that Ignotus was not asked for a timely or substantial effort by the jockey, and was not ridden to obtain the best possible placing. Alan Swinbank did say that he was happy with the jockey until half-way down the back straight when he said he'd told the rider to kick for home. But the stewards felt he was guilty of failing to give adequate instructions to ensure the horse ran on its merits.”
Thompson told the stewards that he was trying to nurse the horse home but that both he and his mount got very tired after hitting the last hurdle. He will be suspended from January 12 to February 1, while Ignotus will not be allowed to race from January 4 to Febuary 12.
What a tit swinabnk is. but to then say that about the jockey, that he should have been giventhe fine. thats outrageous. atleast if youve been caught be gracious. passing the buck on is a classic sign of guilt. the lad would have done what hes told regardles of how much stick he will get. he has no choice. i hope swinbank loses his license in the near future.
