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

Alphonse Le Grande was declared the winner of the £175,000 Cesarewitch Handicap after prevailing in a photo-finish, but he looks set to be disqualified from the contest due to his rider Jamie Powell breaking the whip rules.

Held up towards the near side of the Cesarewitch field, Alphonse Le Grande travelled strongly under apprentice rider Powell and got the nose verdict ahead of Manxman on the other side of the track. 

However, his jockey appeared to strike the horse ten times in the closing stages, four times over the limit of six. Such a transgression triggers disqualification for the horse and rider under the current whip regulations.

The review of the incident is pending investigation from the whip review committee, with the findings to be published on Tuesday. If disqualified, Manxman would be installed as the winner.

The joy of jockey Jamie Powell and the owners of Alphonse Le Grande could be shortlivedCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"He was very lit up even going down with me, he sweated up plenty, and I didn't have much grip on my reins, Powell told ITV Racing before news of the whip transgression emerged. "I was just a passenger for half of the race. 

"To be fair I took my time and when I got him there he dug in for me and hit the line well. I could see the horse [Manxman] and I thought I'd been done on the line. I was a bit sickened pulling up, but when they call out your number and you see your name in front it's great.

"I've had a quiet enough year back home so to get the opportunity to come over here and ride for Cathy, I'm just delighted to get the job done."

Alphonse Le Grande would have been the third consecutive Irish-trained winner of the race. The Ian Williams-trained Aqwaam finished third, with the 2022 Cesarewitch winner Run For Oscar back in 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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