Connections of Alphonse Le Grande launch appeal against Cesarewitch disqualification

The disqualification of Cesarewitch winner Alphonse Le Grande due to whip misuse has been appealed against by connections.

Jockey Jamie Powell was deemed to have used his whip ten times, four times over the threshold, when winning Saturday's £175,000 staying handicap at Newmarket by a nose on the 33-1 shot. The apprentice was banned for 28 days after a review from the whip review committee (WRC).

Alphonse Le Grande held off Manxman in the closing stages and the runner-up's promotion to first could also be significant in the champion apprentice title race, with his rider Sean Dylan Bowen earning another winner in his close battle with Joe Leavy.

Powell, trainer Cathy O'Leary and Alphonse Le Grande's owners the Bet Small Win Big Syndicate have lodged an appeal with a date to be set in the coming days.

The BHA posted on X: "Connections and jockey of Alphonse Le Grande have submitted appeals against the whip review committee's decision to disqualify the horse from the Cesarewitch and suspend jockey, Jamie Powell, for 28 days. We are liaising with parties involved to determine a date for the appeal."

It was the third disqualification since new whip rules were introduced in 2023.

Read more:

BHA defends whip rule procedure in wake of Alphonse Le Grande Cesarewitch disqualification 

'Lesser of two evils' - Alphonse Le Grande disqualified three days after Cesarewitch victory with jockey banned for 28 days 

Simon Crisford on Cesarewitch fallout: 'I'd imagine there are a lot of disgruntled punters out there - it's a complete mess' 

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