Trainer Neil Graham had his appeal against the Lingfield stewards to disqualify his Azihaam at Lingfield last Saturday upheld at an inquiry of the Jockey Club's disciplinary committee in London yesterday.
The Lingfield stewards reversed the positions after Azihaam had beaten Hormuz a short head, under Antonio Polli, in the Margery Allingham Handicap. They found Polli guilty of careless riding and that the interference had improved Azihaam's placing.
However, yesterday it was found that Azihaam had interfered with Hormuz but the interference was caused by careless riding on the part of Polli in that he allowed the filly to drift across the course thereby causing interference.
The committee considered that Azihaam had not improved her placing in respect of the interference and placed Azihaam first and Hormuz second. Polli was suspended for two days on February 15th and 16th.
The decision proved too little too late for bookmakers William Hill. A Lanarkshire punter collected £33,922.85 for a £2 eachway accumulator when the Lingfield stewards awarded the race to Hormuz. Had the objection not been successful at the time the punter would have collected a mere £92.69, a difference of £33,830.69.
