If an apprentice had ridden such a race as Frankie they'd be in front of the stewards for injudicious riding at the least. I don't think I've ever seen an even money horse ridden like a non-trier in a Gr1 race before. Reports say his path was blocked, but it wasn't. He could have switched left without losing ground between the 2f and furlong pole and made a proper attempt to win the race.
If an apprentice had ridden such a race as Frankie they'd be in front of the stewards for injudicious riding at the least. I don't think I've ever seen an even money horse ridden like a non-trier in a Gr1 race before. Reports say his path was blocked, but it wasn't. He could have switched left without losing ground between the 2f and furlong pole and made a proper attempt to win the race.
It's happened often enough before. I particularly remember RVW in the Irish Champion a few years ago, and it seems to be deemed acceptable almost every year on Arc Trials day.
The ride stank - as his trainer clearly indicated it might - but it's the whole ethos of turning a blind eye that's at fault here, not just the trainer and the jockey.
Had they done this in Hong Kong (say), they'd have been pulled immediately and probably given a lengthy suspension, but that won't happen under the BHA's nudge/wink interpretation of how to apply racing's rules.
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