'People are within their rights to be angry' - apprentice jockey banned for 28 days after easing up and being caught on the line

Apprentice jockey Matthew Lloyd Slater has been banned for 28 days after failing to ride out to the line at Leicester on Monday.

The 22-year-old was having the tenth ride of his career on Blufferonthebus for his boss Craig Lidster in the 7f claimer.

Slater took up the lead on the 7-4 favourite approaching the two-furlong pole, with his mount cruising into a six-length lead with the minimum of fuss.

However, as Slater took a glance to his right to look up at the racecourse’s big screen, he began to ease up on the filly in the final 110 yards.

Nights Over Egypt, who had been plugging on in second under George Wood, began to close the gap on the leader. Slater did renew his effort in the final few strides, but the filly was unable to pick up sufficiently on the heavy ground and was beaten a neck by the Jennie Candlish-trained 6-1 shot.

How the incident unfolded

Blufferonthebus has a clear lead in the 7f claimer under Matthew Lloyd SlaterCredit: Racing TV

Slater eases up on Blufferonthebus after seeing how far clear he is on the racecourse's big screenCredit: Racing TV

Nights Over Egypt rapidly closes the gap on BlufferonthebusCredit: Racing TV

Nights Over Egypt gets up to score by a neck over BlufferonthebusCredit: Racing TV

The in-running comment

Blufferonthebus

In touch with leaders on far side of group, pressed leader 3f out, nudged along to lead 2f out, soon went clear, 6 lengths ahead 1f out, eased final 110yds, much reduced lead when pushed along towards finish, headed final strides

After throwing away his chance of a breakthrough winner, Slater was given the maximum possible suspension for the offence by the racecourse stewards for failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to obtain the best possible placing on a horse who would have finished first.

“He rang me up and was upset on the phone,” said trainer Lidster. “He was very apologetic. I stressed to him that he’s let himself down by making that cock-up and obviously, everybody else is going to feel the pain – owners, punters, etc.”

Blufferonthebus began the day a general 6-1 shot before being supported into 7-4 favouritism and Lidster sympathised with punters as well as members of the Nick Bradley Racing Syndicate and Alfa Site Services, who own the daughter of Ribchester.

“He thought he’d got enough to get her over the line and he just fell short of it,” Lidster said. “It’s naivety really. At the end of the day, he’s an apprentice, sometimes people do have to remember that. But, at the same time, it’s a betting sport and people are within their rights to be angry with what’s happened.”

Nights Over Egypt was a second unexpected winner for Wood, who had earlier made good use of a spare ride by helping James Horton’s Beltadaay make a successful handicap debut in the 7f nursery with intended jockey Adam Farragher missing out due to illness.

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