'I simply did not stop riding' - Callum Shepherd 'absolutely stunned' at 18-day ban and questions photo-finish

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Callum Shepherd has questioned the judge's dead-heat verdict at Kempton on Wednesday night and insists he gave his mount "absolutely every chance" to win outright after he was hit with an 18-day ban for failing to ride out to the finish.

Shepherd partnered the David Simcock-trained Thorntonledale Max in the closing 7f handicap and they were deemed to have shared the spoils in the photo-finish alongside favourite Flavour Maker, having been joined on the line. However, the stewards then judged that the jockey dropped his hands in the closing stages. 

Shepherd's ban is currently set to begin on September 4 and last until September 21. It means he will miss a busy period in British Flat racing, including Haydock's Sprint Cup, the St Leger fixture at Doncaster and the Ayr Gold Cup meeting.

Speaking to the Racing Post, Shepherd said: "The photo-finish verdict looks questionable to me and a lot of people seem to agree, but I think any appeal has to go through the owners and David [Simcock]. If that is the case, I'll need to discuss it with them. 

"There is a slight frustration that I can't challenge the photo myself, and I think I should be able to, because winning races is as relevant to the jockey as it is to the owner and trainer."

• Watch the incident here

He added: "Regardless of that, I feel I gave the horse absolutely every chance to win the race outright and I don't think there was anything in my riding that detracted from that. I don't understand how they can say I should have won outright. 

"They are saying you can see on the still that my body has come up but my hands are very much forward. I simply did not stop riding and I've met the line as hard as I could. I don't feel there is anything more I could have done."

The report from the stewards read: "Callum Shepherd, the rider of Thorntonledale Max, who dead-heated for first, had failed to ride out to the winning post. After being interviewed and shown recordings of the incident, Shepherd was suspended for 18 days for failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures on a horse which would have finished outright first."

Shepherd is liaising with the Professional Jockeys Association on what next steps to take, but admitted he was shocked at how the incident played out afterwards.

"I was absolutely stunned to be called in by the stewards," he said. "When I weighed in and someone said the stewards wanted to see me, I thought it was a joke. For that reason, I suppose I was baffled when I went in to see them. 

The photo-finish to the closing 7f handicap at Kempton on Wednesday nightCredit: Racetech

"Maybe I didn't go in there as calmly as would have been ideal, but I certainly tried to express my points, and I think I did that as eloquently and adequately as I could. I really couldn't believe the decision.

"I'm currently seeking advice from the PJA. There have been people whose case was not heard until just before the start date of the ban. They have ended up being penalised even when they've been acquitted. My hope, therefore, is that I can get this dealt with as quickly as possible. Until that point, it will be weighing on me slightly."

On Monday, James Doyle avoided sanctions after appearing to stop riding when beaten a short-head in a Windsor maiden. However, the stewards accepted his explanation that his mount No Retreat jinked and hung left, which caused him to become unbalanced in the saddle.

Apprentice jockey Alec Voikhansky was also issued with a 28-day ban this month after he eased his mount, Power Of Twins, down and was caught at Bath.

How the incident unfolded

Callum Shepherd and Thorntonledale Max are clearly in front in the closing stages of the 7f handicapCredit: Racing TV

They are being challenged for the lead by favourite Flavour MakerCredit: Racing TV

The pair go stride-for-stride as the winning line approachesCredit: Racing TV

The result of the finish is officially called a dead-heatCredit: Racing TV

Read these next:

'I 100 per cent feel for the punters' - James Doyle defends ride after odds-on favourite dramatically loses on the line 

Alec Voikhansky banned for 28 days after throwing away victory at Bath 

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