Robert Havlin banned for 21 days after ride on eyecatching Lingfield second

Robert Havlin was suspended for 21 days at Lingfield on Wednesday for his ride on Stowell, who was a fast-finishing second to stablemate and 2-9 favourite Polling Day.

In a race which stirred much debate, 16-1 newcomer Stowell finished strongly under Havlin behind the John and Thady Gosden-trained Polling Day in the 1m4f novice contest, having run into traffic problems behind the retreating front-running pair of Scampi and Reverend Hubert turning for home.

Following a lengthy inquiry, the stewards suspended Havlin for "failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure Stowell obtained his best possible placing, in that after getting a clear run in the straight, the colt had not been asked for a sufficient effort".

How the race unfolded

Credit: Sky Sports Racing

Credit: Sky Sports Racing

Credit: Sky Sports Racing

Credit: Sky Sports Racing

Credit: Sky Sports Racing

Havlin told the stewards his instructions were to settle Stowell and ride him to obtain his best possible position, adding the colt was a fragile type who had a high knee action and that John Gosden had instructed him to ride under hands and heels and not to use his whip.

Havlin said his mount ran on well inside the final half furlong and stated, in his opinion, the winner was idling in front and therefore it appeared the runner-up had finished faster than he actually had.

The trainers' representative stated he was happy with the ride, it accorded with the instructions given and they were very pleased with Stowell's debut effort.

Havlin, who plays a key role at the Gosden stable, is set to miss a major part of the early season, with his ban covering the dates May 5-8 and 10-26.

Polling Day, an expensive Derby entry, was Frankie Dettori's first ride at Lingfield since October 29 last year.

The in-running comment

Chased leaders, not clear run on inner home turn, in the clear and shaken up over 1f out, went second and 5 lengths down 1f out, tenderly handled and kept on strongly final 110yds, just held, eyecatcher, promising

4.35 Lingfield: full result, race replay and expert analysis

Havlin had made a good start to 2021 and has ridden 27 winners at a one-in-five strike-rate this year.

He has spent two decades with John Gosden, riding good horses such as Journey, Richard Pankhurst, Mehdaayih and Wissahickon for the Clarehaven yard.

The Scot, 47, enjoyed his best season in 2018 with 127 winners and he rode the 1,000th winner of his career last year.

Robert Havlin considering appeal against 21-day ban after eyecatching second

But he served a six-month drugs ban imposed by the French racing authorities in 2017.

Sky Sports Racing pundit Jason Weaver remarked that the ride on Stowell, who drifted from 8-1 to 16-1 before the off, was "very, very kid gloves".

In analysing the race, Weaver said: "Stowell has absolutely picked up under kid gloves all the way down the straight. He was checked in behind runners, it then opens up for him down on the inside and if he gets out at that point, he definitely goes and wins."

Pundit Jason Weaver: 'If he gets out at that point, he definitely goes and wins'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Entering the final furlong, Weaver added: "We still haven't seen Rab [Havlin] get into that familiar drive of his. He doesn't quite get there in the closing stages. That was very, very kid gloves on the second all the way up to the line.

"Just looking at the jockey's body language, there wasn't much urgency there, was there? Stowell, the absolute eyecatcher there."

Read more of the week's top stories:

Vandals and thieves leave Wexford racecourse reeling after series of break-ins

Tiger Roll team leaning towards Sandown outing over 'hot' Punchestown race

Benoit de la Sayette: there are no excuses and I'm sorry for letting people down

For all our exclusive free bet offers and must-have daily promotions click the free bets button or go to racingpost.com/freebets