ATZENI ASCOT COCK-UP

ANDREA ATZENI has been dramatically ruled out of Champions Day at Ascot today after a BHA blunder.

The Sardinian was due to ride Thomas Hobson in the Long Distance Cup, Lightning Spear in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Sharja Bridge in the Balmoral Handicap after racing chiefs allowed his request to postpone one day of a two-day ban.

But the BHA were forced into a red-faced apology after it emerged the suspension was handed down by the French stewards — so was outside their powers.

“We apologise to Andrea, the connections of the horses and anyone else affected by this,” said a BHA statement.

Atzeni said: “They contacted me at 4pm and to be told at that time isn’t fair on the owners or the trainers of the horses. We all make mistakes, but when jockeys make them they get punished.”