Alphonse Le Grande prevails in photo-finish but 33-1 shot could be disqualified after rider breaks whip rules

Alphonse Le Grande became the third successive Irish-trained winner of the Club Godolphin Cesarewitch but could be disqualified after winning jockey Jamie Powell appeared to break the whip rules.

It was a race that had everything, with the favourite Jacovec Cavern missing the break, a wide runner from an outside draw that split the groups into two turning for home and a finish that went down to the wire before Alphonse Le Grande scored by a nose.

However, it emerged that Powell was deemed by stewards to have used his whip ten times, four over the permitted level on the Flat, which opens up the prospect of disqualification. The BHA later confirmed the ride had been referred to the whip review committee, which will meet on Tuesday. 

A BHA spokesman said: "We can confirm the ride by Jamie Powell on Alphonse Le Grande has been referred to the whip review committee. No breach of the rules has yet been found and the horse will not be disqualified unless the whip review committee determines that the whip has been used four times or more above the permitted level, and, for example, that all uses of the whip made contact with the horse, and that none of the uses were clearly and unequivocally for safety purposes only.

“There have been several cases since the new rules were implemented whereby a ride was referred and carried a potential disqualification but the whip review committee did not reach this outcome.”

Alphonse Le Grande, sent off at 33-1, was reappearing just 13 days after finishing down the field in the Irish Cesarewitch. He powered up the stands' rail to deny local runner Manxman, who many onlookers thought had given Newmarket a first win in the race since 2009.

The winner was trained by Cathy O'Leary, who took over the licence from Tony Martin when he was suspended earlier this year and she also led up the five-year-old.

She said: "It's unreal. I thought he was second to be honest. He went to Chester and then won at Newcastle and we thought this looked like the right race for him."

The winning owners were the Bet Small Win Big Syndicate, headed by Adrian McAndrew, who said: "With five strides to go I didn't know if we were going to get there, but I knew there was going to be a photo and we had a chance. The phone then started ringing which told me he was short on Betfair and they don't often get it wrong. It's a great training performance and it's not just all about us."

The field enters the closing stages of the CesarewitchCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Powell was registering his biggest win in Britain on the back of a disappointing summer in Ireland.

He said: "It's been a quiet year back home since I went down to 3lb, but this makes up for it. I followed James Doyle and Ryan Moore when we turned for home as I thought they must know the best way home. He got there a bit soon as he usually needs to be produced right on the line. I didn't know if I'd won but I thought I might have nicked it."

Simon Crisford, joint-trainer of runner-up Manxman, said: "He's run a great race and I thought we'd won when he went past the line. He's progressive and he'll be nice prospect for staying races next year." 

The Ian Williams-trained Aqwaam finished third, with the 2022 Cesarewitch winner Run For Oscar fourth.

What do the whip rules state?

Following the 2022 report into the use of the whip, the rules in British racing were revised. The rules relevant to this situation are as follows: 

• The whip can be used a maximum of six times in a Flat race or seven times in a Jump race. Any more than this will prompt the stewards to review the ride

• Should the whip be used four times or more above the permitted level, the horse and rider will be disqualified from the race

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