Every time you watch it, it looks worse and young jockey James Ridley will be having nightmare’s for a while as his costly error led to Lookslikerainted throwing away certain victory in the BLP Insurance Brokers Open Hunters’ Chase after the jockey eased up on the gelding at the half-furlong pole, mistaking it for the winning line.
That allowed Triangular, the eventual winner and Ballytober to go past Ridley and his mount to fight out the finish, with Ridley up in his irons after thinking he had already won the race.
Ridley, who has gained 47 winners in the point-to-point sphere was well clear on the gelding but what some punters will deem as a foolish manoeuvre eased up after believing he had already crossed the winning line.
Ridley received a 28 day ban for the incident.
Twitter: Oh dear, what on earth is James Ridley doing on Lookslikerainted in the Hunters’ Chase at Newbury? The win seems as… https://t.co/kesYNnRSEA (@Racing_UK)
Trainer and owner Martin Wilsemith took it well afterwards, commenting:
Listen, obviously I’m a little upset but compared to what happened on Westminster Bridge the other day it is absolutely nothing.
I’m thrilled with the horse and just looking forward to when we cna run him again. Nobody has died so we’ll just look forward. James has apologised.
The jockey tweeted his apologies.
Twitter: Completely gutted for misjudging the winning post today ! Sorry for everyone involved #nobodymoreangrythanmyself (@JMR_jamesridley)
