'It was one of the most horrible moments of my life' - Micheal Nolan successfully appeals 12-day ban for taking wrong course

Micheal Nolan has successfully appealed a 12-day suspension for taking the wrong course aboard favourite Tommie Beau in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham this month.

While giving evidence to the independent disciplinary panel, the jockey said the aftermath of the incident was "one of the most horrible moments of my life" due to the abuse he received from racegoers.

The stewards deemed him to have breached the rules of racing by taking the wrong course after jumping the third-last and running out, which Nolan argued was due to the 100-30 shot uncharacteristically not responding to multiple attempts to change direction.

"When I walked back up to the weighing room, it was one of the most horrible moments of my life because of the abuse I got from punters," said Nolan. "It's not something I want to remember. I got called every name under the sun and was threatened, which I don't want to repeat again. I convinced the owner to run him. I've always wanted to win this race having been second before and I was heartbroken.

"I was abused by the public after trying my best to win. It's one thing to be abused on social media after losing on a favourite but it's a bit scarier when somebody is saying they're going to meet you in the car park. I'll never forget about this as it was probably my one chance to win the race and it's gone. I did everything I could and it went wrong in seconds. I've not had many worse days on a racecourse."

The jockey, who was partnering Tommie Beau for the 26th time, told the panel he was familiar with the course, having ridden in the race six times and run the track on the morning of the race. Nolan argued that he had attempted to alter the nine-year-old's direction but the horse did not respond and threw his head in the air, as he had done on previous occasions during the race, due to sensitivity in his mouth. 

Tommie Beau ducked off the course after the third-last at Cheltenham

"He's the most successful horse I've had a partnership with," said Nolan. "I know him extremely well and have been riding him for years. He's an athletic jumper, a strong stayer and I always felt he should run in this race. I've never had any steering issues and I never in a million years expected this horse not to respond to me – he's experienced and usually reacts to a slight shift of my weight or a gentle touch.

"I know he's an animal but if I had to trust any horse with my life it would be him. I've got so much confidence in him. When he didn't respond at first, I put strong contact on his mouth, taking action with the right rein, and the same thing happened as earlier in the race with his head coming up. The bit is my steering aid but when his head is in the air he's out of my control. The race was over and I pulled him up."

After viewing multiple replays of the incident, the BHA, represented by Charlotte Davison, contended that Nolan left it too late to take sufficient corrective measures to change direction aboard Tommie Beau and questioned his positioning at the previous fence, given the horse had shown a reluctance to turn right. Nolan, who led for much of the contest, said he was attempting to take the most competitive line.

Delivering the verdict to Nolan following a lengthy hearing, the panel's chair Tim Grey said: "It's not been an easy decision to make but it has been a clear one and on balance the panel has determined that the BHA has not satisfied to the requisite standard that you breached the rule on this particular occasion and we therefore uphold the appeal."

Read more:

Micheal Nolan to appeal against 12-day ban for taking wrong course on cross-country favourite 

Jockey gets 12-day ban for taking wrong course as Sweet David wins chaotic cross-country for France 

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