Derby hero Beggy handed eight-day ban for interference

Padraig Beggy, the hero on Wings Of Eagles in the Derby, was cast as the villain in the Coral-Eclipse and was given an eight-day ban for careless riding following an incident on the first bend that ended with 7-4 favourite Cliffs Of Moher being badly hampered.

Riding Cliffs Of Moher’s pacemaker Taj Mahal, Beggy was adjudged to have caused interference to Decorated Knight, who in turn left Ryan Moore on Cliffs Of Moher with no place to go, causing him to stumble badly and make contact with the rail. The favourite lost his early position on the inner and was playing catch-up thereafter.

BHA head of stewarding Paul Barton said: "Cliffs Of Moher was badly hampered on the rail. Just ahead of him Olivier Peslier also appeared to be hampered on Decorated Knight, and the horse ahead of him was Taj Mahal, ridden by Padraig Beggy.

“They were just about to go round the apex of the bend when it appeared Beggy just edged in sufficiently to cause the interference that happened behind him. While he might not have moved very far, the interference was considerable.

"We imposed a penalty of eight days, from July 22 to 29 inclusive, which includes Ascot's King George."

'Races don't always go smooth'

Cliffs Of Moher finished fourth without ever working his way back to a challenging position after his early mishap.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of both Cliffs Of Moher and Taj Mahal, said: “Ryan didn’t say much but he ran very well. I didn’t get a really good look but races don’t always go smooth. The horse seems fine.”

Beggy declined to comment but, asked for his view, James Doyle, rider of runner-up Barney Roy, said: “Ryan just didn't get a lot of room early on and he hit the rail and almost came down.”

In a separate incident in a dramatic contest, Silvestre de Sousa was banned for two days (July 22 and 23) for careless riding on Eminent, who finished fifth. The stewards noted that Eminent "attempted to bite Decorated Knight during the interference".

Race result and analysis