‘Idiots’ jibe reaction

Trainer David Bridgwater is likely to incur the wrath of the British Horseracing authority for calling Ludlow stewards ‘idiots’.

Bridgwater’s comments followed the 21- day suspension handed to amateur rider Jake Launchbury after the 16- year- old had thrown away victory on Bally Sands on Wednesday when mistaking the correct route to the winning post.

Launchbury began to steer around the last fence, believing it to be the water jump which is only taken once, but realising his mistake he veered sharply to his right aboard the 2- 1 favourite to jump the final obstacle.

Page Fuller aboard Petit ecuyer followed Launchbury and Bally Sands as they began to swerve round the last fence and, although she too jumped the last, she received a 10-day ban for her part in the incident.

after the race Bridgwater sympathised with Launchbury over losing the chance of a winner on just his fourth ride.

However, he was subsequently quoted in The Guardian, saying: ‘They asked me to go into the stewards’ room with Jake, it was the same idiots that were there when i was riding 20 years ago. OK, give him a week’s ban, but to give him 21 days, i think they must still have been p****d from lunch.’ BHa spokesman robin Mounsey called the comments ‘ wholly unacceptable’, and said the BHa would take ‘appropriate action’.