Jockey James Ridley banned after slowing down horse Lookslikerainted thinking he’d already won

JOCKEY James Ridley has been banned for 28 days after slowing down his horse Lookslikerainted thinking he’d already won the race.

The amateur rider cannot race for the next four weeks after he lost his lead in the final stages of the Hunters’ Chase at Newbury – having mistook the winning post.

On passing the pole to signify there was half a furlong to run, Ridley began to ease his mount down to the bafflement of the watching crowd.

Lookslikerainted, a 33-1 outsider trained by Martin Wilesmith, finished in third after Ridley appeared to think he had mistakenly crossed the finishing line.

The Hunters’ Chase was eventually won by Triangular, closely followed by Ballytober.

Ridley said the half-furlong pole caused the problem at the stewards inquiry after the race – but he was found guilty of failing to ride out on a horse that would have otherwise finished first.

Wilesmith took it well, and compared it to the bigger picture of the terror attack in central London on Wednesday in which four people were killed and 50 people injured by Khalid Masood, who eventually also died.

He said: “Obviously I’m a little upset but compared to what happened in Westminster the other day it is absolutely nothing.

“I’m thrilled with the horse and just looking forward to when we can run him again now. We’ll just look forwards. James has apologised.”