James Ridley was streaking home in the Hunters' Chase at Newbury yesterday on a horse named Lookslikerainted, before the kind of farce associated with the show from which the horse's name sprung struck.
Lookslikerainted was a 33-1 shot, but as he approached the line to earn a few lucky punters a massive windfall, he slowed down, and allowed two horses to pass him. It appeared at the time that he believed the race was over before he actually crossed the finishing line.
You can watch the video below:
Oh dear, what on earth is James Ridley doing on Lookslikerainted in the Hunters' Chase at Newbury? The win seems assured, and then... pic.twitter.com/aS7XLHWsRU
— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) March 24, 2017
Ridley explained his error afterward: he had misjudged the location of the finishing post.
Completely gutted for misjudging the winning post today ! Sorry for everyone involved #nobodymoreangrythanmyself
— james ridley (@JMR_jamesridley) March 24, 2017
A post-race inquiry decreed that Ridley was guilty of failing to ride out on a horse that would have finished first, so therefore has been banned for 28 days.
