Paddy Bradley fails in appeal against six-day careless riding ban for causing interference at Brighton

Paddy Bradley has failed in his appeal against a six-day careless riding ban for interference issued by the stewards at Brighton last week in a case in which part of his argument was that rival jockey Billy Loughnane had caused the incident.

The 29-year-old was riding 2-1 favourite Big Bard on September 9 in a 7f handicap when he was found to have caused Loughnane to take a significant check on On Song on the outside rail three furlongs from home.

On a day when the going was soft, good to soft in places at Brighton and jockeys tracked across to the stands' side rail in search of better ground, Bradley had Big Bard in the lead after the six-year-old had been keen early on.

Loughnane, who pushed along On Song for a few strides as he made his move to the rail behind Big Bard, went for the gap but had nowhere to go and was forced to snatch up his mount, who went on to finish second, beaten only a neck.

Bradley, who finished last of five on Big Bard, insisted he had taken the established racing line on the day and had been caught by surprise by Loughnane's position and only realised he was there when he heard him "scream" as the two horses collided. 

As part of his case, Bradley blamed Loughnane for the interference, with the jockey saying when cross-examined: "Billy misjudged the situation." 

However, the panel sided with the assertion of the BHA's Charlotte Davison that Bradley had continued to move his horse to the rail and took no reasonable steps to avoid causing the interference. 

Delivering the verdict, panel chair Tim Grey said: "In the balance of probabilities we conclude that it was Mr Bradley who had caused the interference not Mr Loughnane, as has been suggested in part. 

"Mr Bradley did not take reasonable steps judged in the context of relevant events and was therefore guilty of careless riding, and therefore we uphold the decision of the stewards." 

Loughnane, the teenage riding sensation who rode a double at Royal Ascot in June, was called to give evidence on behalf of the BHA and felt he had every right to go for the gap.

Responding to the view of Bradley's solicitor Rory Mac Neice that the manoeuvre was full of risk, Loughnane said: "We were definitely coming across to the fence and I'm aware that the gap that I'm going for is going to get smaller, but at the time I move for the gap we're not even halfway across the track.

"Every manoeuvre you make is a risk, but there was room when I started my manoeuvre."

The interference was deemed considerable and although the panel considered whether to change the severity of the ban, it was left unchanged at six days with Bradley set to be sidelined from September 23-28 inclusive. 

Bradley, who rode out his claim this year and is closing in on last year's career-best tally of 26 winners, had his deposit returned and full written reasons will be published in due course. 

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