Punters slate nine ‘terrible rides’ as horse and jockey ‘gifted’ 30-length lead but stewards say ‘nothing to report’

4 days ago 5

PUNTERS slated nine ‘terrible rides’ as a winning horse and jockey were ‘gifted’ a 30-length lead.

But despite their anger, stewards said there was ‘nothing to report’ after the controversial Catterick race.

Horse race at Catterick, a horse and jockey approaching a fence at 31 mph.

Horse race at Catterick, four horses nearing the finish line.

As it turned out, 7lb claimer Shay Halton and 13-2 Be The Difference won by an ever-diminishing length-and-a-half at the end of the 3m1½f amateur jockeys’ handicap hurdle.

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But the others did well to get anywhere near the pair after being, in the words of the Racing Post race analysis, ‘gifted’ an absolutely massive lead in the 12.30pm contest.

Some 12 hurdles were jumped in all and Be The Difference was leading by the time they got to the fifth.

But it was then the Philip Kirby-trained eight-year-old gelding hared off in front.

At one stage the camera operator had to go to their widest zoom possible, with Halton and Be The Difference stretching 30 lengths clear before the third last.

Unchallenged, they sauntered over the final two flights before picking up well to score from runner-up Copper Beach.

It’s worth remembering these jockeys, all amateurs, are still learning their trade and mistakes do happen.

But nevertheless punters were floored to see nine of them allow the eventual winner to build such an easy lead.

One fumed: “This is happening too many times now. I get that there is a lack of experience but they need to get penalised for this or they will never learn.”

Another comment on X read: “What were the others doing?”

A fellow punter said: “Wow. Ridiculous.”

While another wrote: “Great ride on the winner in the opener at Catterick? No. Terrible rides from the others.

“Can’t analyse that race any other way.”

However, any bettors looking for swift punitive action from the raceday stewards were left disappointed.

Their synopsis of the race read simply: “Nothing to report.”