'I feel victimised' - Jason Watson hits out after controversial seven-day ban

Flat jockey Jason Watson said he felt "victimised" after being given a seven-day ban by stewards at Nottingham for failing to give a full and substantial effort aboard two-year-old newcomer Noisy Night on Tuesday.

The Roger Charlton-trained runner appeared to completely blow his chance at the start, veering violently to the left in the opening 6f maiden, leaving him around 15 lengths behind the leader and seven from the backmarker after a furlong.

The 13-2 shot never got close, beating one rival home, and finished almost 26 lengths behind winner Unspoken.

In the stewards' report, Watson is reported to have said when interviewed that he did not put his mount "under any form of pressure to improve" due to his "uncompetitive position".

But the stewards deemed he did not 'take all reasonable and permissible measures' and Watson faces a suspension from June 1-7.

1.10 Nottingham: full result and race replay

In a tweet on Tuesday night, Watson said: "I feel very victimised and unsure of the true intentions of the BHA.

"Today I did what any horseman would have done in the circumstances having been onboard a first time out two-year-old. My priority lies with the horse's welfare."

Noisy Night's trainer Charlton added: "I thought it was quite harsh. He clearly fluffed his lines coming out of the stalls and dived to his left, Jason grabbed hold of him and gave him a few smacks. From a punter's perspective they'd have torn up their tickets then as every chance he had of winning the race had gone.

"I wasn't sure how far he was beaten, but if he'd been hard-ridden and hit four times in the closing stages he may have been beaten 18 or 16 lengths, let's say. Would that have made any difference to the punter? Nobody knows, including me, where he would have finished if he'd jumped out with them.

"So, I guess you could argue if Jason had ridden more vigorously he would have finished closer, and the rules have been interpreted correctly, but I think it's harsh and unfortunate."

Ascot aims

Hughie Morrison will look at bigger targets for his two winners on the card – King Of Clubs and Legendary Day – and the former could be aimed at the Golden Gates Handicap at Royal Ascot next.

Morrison said: "They're two nice horses with ability so you'd hope they'd be able to progress up the ladder. We'll go up to ten furlongs with King Of Clubs now."

Call My Bluff, who won the 2m handicap on the card, may be aimed at the Ascot Stakes next, according to trainer Dominic Ffrench Davis.

Results, replays and analysis

Read more tales from the track:

Billy Garritty blames 'mix-up' after 21-day ban for ignoring vet's advice

'He rode in a way that brings racing into disrepute' – rider hit with 56-day ban

'I don't know why he did that' – furious trainer apologises after jockey error

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