'I felt terrible, I was responsible' - Harry Cobden's support helps cut a ban for Sam Twiston-Davies

Sam Twiston-Davies is free to ride at Ascot on Saturday following a successful appeal that has reduced a careless riding suspension to four days from seven. The 32-year-old was given great assistance by the evidence of Harry Cobden, who was on the wrong end of Twiston-Davies' interference at Stratford recently but told a disciplinary panel on Thursday morning that he bore at least some responsibility for what happened.

Cobden was aboard the runner-up, Lud'Or, in a maiden hurdle won by Twiston-Davies on Glynn Brae. While their finishing positions did not appear to be affected, Glynn Brae hung across to the inside rail at the half-furlong pole, squeezing out Lud'Or and causing that rival to clip his heels.

Twiston-Davies accepted he was guilty of careless riding but appealed on the grounds that seven days was excessive, taking into account that various factors had contributed to the interference, including the greenness of his four-year-old mount. He was backed up by Cobden, the reigning champion jockey, who told the panel: "I didn't react soon enough.

"My horse has picked up and gone into a space that I shouldn't have gone into. I feel as if the whole scenario could have been prevented if I'd just switched to the right-hand side of Mr Twiston-Davies.

"I think it's probably my horse's momentum that has taken me into the back of Mr Twiston-Davies, rather than him coming across. I was aware of him coming across but I haven't taken measures to go to his outside."

Cobden explained that, from before the final flight, he felt "booked for second", having asked Lud'Or for an effort and received no response. Rather than blame Twiston-Davies, he insisted: "I would have ridden his horse exactly the same way, I wouldn't have changed anything.

Sam Twiston-Davies's reduced ban allows him to ride at Ascot on SaturdayCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"I have potentially created the seven-day suspension because I've put my horse in a situation where he shouldn't have been. I don't think it's his fault. It's not really my fault. I just feel that the reason why he got the seven days is because I ran on to the back of his heels and I felt terrible after the inquiry because I felt I was responsible."

Charlotte Davison, presenting the BHA case, insisted that Cobden had done nothing wrong and was fully entitled to pursue an inside line, for which there was plenty of room until Glynn Brae hung across. She told the panel there was no obligation on a sufferer to take steps to avoid themselves being interfered with. 

"Mr Twiston-Davies did nothing to straighten his horse or to prevent interference," she added. "You can't expect a jockey to know that a rider in front is going to breach the rules."

Delivering the verdict, panel chairman James O'Mahony said: "We found Mr Cobden's evidence to be honest and relevant and it does have some bearing on the matters we have to consider. There are some cases where the video footage tells all and is more compelling than the live evidence before us. This is not such a case.

"In the end, two jockeys can contribute to an incident of interference without both being in breach." He ruled that Twiston-Davies was guilty of causing "increased interference" rather than the more serious "considerable interference" and therefore a shorter suspension was appropriate. 

The ban had been scheduled to start on Saturday but some flexibility as to timing is permitted for bans of four days or shorter. Twiston-Davies will serve his suspension from Sunday to Wednesday.

Read more:

Confirmed runners and riders for the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby and Gerri Colombe's return at Down Royal 

Harry Cobden: 'The doctor said take it steady - what's he on about? I'll be straight back knocking them in' 

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