Date set as Dragon Symbol team appeal against Royal Ascot reverse

An appeal has been lodged by the connections of Dragon Symbol into the decision by stewards at Royal Ascot last week to demote him from first in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup for causing interference.

The finish to the Commonwealth Cup proved to be one of the most controversial of the week with Dragon Symbol prevailing by a head from Campanelle having drifted and taken the two horses from the stands’ side to the far side of the course in the process.

Following a lengthy stewards’ inquiry, it was deemed that without the interference Campanelle, trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by Frankie Dettori, would have been successful prompting the places to be reversed.

Watch the controversial finish to the Commonwealth Cup

A disagreement also emerged in the aftermath of the decision with Oisin Murphy, who rode Dragon Symbol, indicating that Dettori had said the first past the post was the best horse in the race.

"I went into the stewards' room knowing I was on the best horse, Frankie told me I was on the best horse, it just didn't go my way," the champion jockey said. Dettori refuted the claim.

Connections of Dragon Symbol had been magnanimous in defeat last Friday, with trainer Archie Watson striding across the paddock to congratulate Ward, but had also intimated an appeal would follow given the magnitude of the race and the grey being a colt.

Commonwealth Cup: Campanelle (left) won the race in the stewards' roomCredit: Edward Whitaker

That intention was confirmed by Murphy, a friend of the owner Yoshiro Kubota, who said via text: “Mr Kubota is keen to appeal but I’ve not discussed it with Archie yet.”

The appeal, for which connections of Dragon Symbol must lodge a £500 deposit, was later confirmed by the BHA with a disciplinary panel hearing into the incident taking place on July 1.

Watson said later: "I can confirm that an appeal has been lodged on behalf of Dragon Symbol's connections."

The four-day careless riding ban handed to Murphy as part of the same inquiry last week has not been appealed.

An appeal notice published by the BHA said: “The independent disciplinary panel will convene on July 1 to hear an appeal brought by Archie Watson against the decision of the stewards at Royal Ascot to reverse the placings following interference in the Commonwealth Cup. It is noted that the four days for careless riding received by Oisin Murphy is not being appealed.

“An inquiry was held to consider the placings in this race following interference over the final furlong and a half. The stewards considered that the interference had improved Dragon Symbol’s placing as at the time of interference, both horses were travelling equally as well, and they believed that the distance lost by Campanelle, who was taken notably off her intended line and bumped on a minimum of two occasions, equated to more than the head by which she was beaten.”

Read more on the Commonwealth Cup protagonists:

'I didn't say that. He's wrong' - Dettori counters Murphy best-horse claim

'Oisin's horse drifted about eight lanes' – Commonwealth Cup result reversed

Did the stewards get it right in the Commonwealth Cup? Experts have their say

'No place for tears' – Alcohol Free gives Oisin Murphy Group 1 redemption

No July Cup bid for Campanelle as Wesley Ward takes US raiders back home

Watch live races through the Racing Post. Log in to your bookmaker account and look on the racecards for eligible races. Click the red 'Watch live now' icon and they're off! Find out how here