Jockey Brendan Powell handed hefty ban following dramatic finish at Newton Abbot
A 14-day ban has been handed to jockey Brendan Powell for improper riding during the penultimate flight in the Fudge Bassett Memorial “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle.
Powell was aboard David Bridgwater's Extraordinary Man and approached the second last with a slender lead ahead of San Giovanni.
As the extended two-mile-two-furlong contest approached its conclusion, Extraordinary Man began to drift left as the hurdle came into view. That forced San Giovanni off his line, with the gelding running out at the flight and unseating the jockey, Kevin Brogan.
In the aftermath, Powell was also dislodged. What's more, one of the loose horses impeded eventual runner-up Light Em Up Nigel on the run to the last. That allowed 80/1 shot Holerday Ridge to take the victory.
The British Horseracing Authority stewards' report read: "An inquiry was held to consider interference approaching the second last hurdle when Extraordinary Man, ridden by Brendan Powell, interfered with San Giovanni, ridden by Kevin Brogan, who ran out on the approach to the hurdle.
In-running chaos at @NewtonAbbotRace! 😳
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 16, 2022
Dramatic unseats aplenty over the final two obstacles as Holerday Ridge wins at 80/1 for William Kennedy and Claire Hitch... pic.twitter.com/ejobR7ZVmn
"Brendan Powell was suspended for 14 days for improper riding as after realising that Brogan was improving his position to his inside, he continued to ride an overly competitive line, causing interference when it ought to have been obvious that by riding that line interference would result, and contributing but not causing San Giovanni, who had passed Extraordinary Man at the time, to run out prior to the lead in rail of the hurdle."
The ban is set to begin on April 30 and will be paused on May 1 due to the lack of jump racing. It will resume a day later and continue until May 14.