Lee Newman: received hefty ban after making costly mistake

  PICTURE: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)  

Newman banned after mistaking winning post

JOCKEY Lee Newman received a 28-day ban at Newbury on Saturday after he briefly stopped riding and forfeited his lead in the closing stages of the 1m fillies' handicap.

Newman was riding the Jonny Portman-trained Russian Rave and had just gained the upper hand on Our Gal inside the final furlong when he paused riding after mistaking the half-furlong marker for the winning post. He asked his mount to respond again after realising his error but lost out by a head.

Portman said: "Lee held his hands up and he'll beat himself up about it. It's very frustrating, though.

"He used to ride a lot for us when he was apprenticed to Richard Hannon. We got on very well with him and he rode us a lot of winners."