Tom Bellamy's Worcester ride on The Blues Master slammed by trainer Martin Smith

Tom Bellamy's ride on The Blues Master at Worcester on Monday has been heavily criticised by trainer Martin Smith, whose Affluence was the chief sufferer in the race.

Bellamy was riding 11-2 shot The Blues Master for Alan King in the two-mile maiden hurdle when he hampered Affluence, who was partnered by Leighton Aspell.

The manoeuvre was an offence the Worcester stewards deemed worthy of an eight-day ban for improper riding.

It also incurred the wrath of the Newmarket-based Smith, who first vented his anger on Twitter and then told the Racing Post: "It was totally uncalled for. I've ridden in races and understand race-riding, but that was way beyond that.

The incident happened in a maiden hurdle at WorcesterCredit: Edward Whitaker

"Leighton was shocked. I was at Brighton with another runner and watched it on my phone and I was in disbelief, while Leighton said he didn't know why it happened and obviously it blew any chance we had in the race."

Affluence, who went off at 9-2, had been fancied and Smith added: "He finished second on his last run over hurdles and had been doing really well on the Flat, so we were hopeful and definitely thought he'd be placed and maybe better. We were really disappointed.

"I think the stewards have acted accordingly and to get eight days you have to do something fairly wrong."

Watch the replay of the incident at Worcester

A three-time winner, Affluence was reported to be none the worse physically for the experience on Tuesday morning.

"We'll probably know how it's affected him when we next ride him out or do something with him," continued the dual-purpose Smith, who started training in 2013, having built up a wealth of experience around the world, including a two-year stint as clerk of the course at Jebel Ali racecourse in Dubai.

Bellamy, whose biggest win came on Splash Of Ginge in the BetVictor Gold Cup in 2017, did not want to be drawn into a war of words and is keen to move on from the matter.

"I've had my punishment from the stewards and spoke to Leighton Aspell on the phone last night and hope that's the end of it," said the 24-year-old, who will be suspended from September 30 until October 7.

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