Buckman Tavern team philosophical after losing out in two stewards' calls

A common sentiment in sport is that when it comes to getting a decision from the officials, fortune tends to even itself out.

But Sir Mark Prescott and Middleham Park Racing are entitled to feel they are due a change of luck after Buckman Tavern finished runner-up at Sandown on Wednesday for the second time in the space of six days.

Both finishes were the subject of stewards' inquiries and Buckman Tavern traded at odds-on with Betfair to be awarded the race at the conclusion of official deliberation twice. But in both instances, the result was left unaltered.

Buckman Tavern in winning form at Carlisle last SeptemberCredit: Grossick Photography

Still basking in the glow of big-race success with Timoshenko at Goodwood on Wednesday afternoon, Middleham Park's Tim Palin put a brave face on events on Thursday.

Palin said: "It's the Ashes at the minute and I think most good batsmen would treat each ball on its merits rather than be blown away by whatever the previous ball was. I think that’s the prudent way to deal with most stewards' inquiries."

Members can watch Buckman Tavern's first Sandown defeat here

On July 25, Buckman Tavern traded a 2-5 to be awarded the race after Just Hubert swerved late on before passing the post half a length to the good, causing plenty of debate on social media when the result wasn't altered.

Palin added: "I've watched the race 12 or 15 times and on not one viewing can I be certain that he would have passed the post first. So I think the stewards have applied the letter of the law correctly.

"There might have been grounds for appeal, but I don’t think it’s a very classy thing to do in sport generally. The distance that he was beaten and the lack of certainty that he would have won made it difficult for them and a simple interpretation of the rules probably meant they had to leave the result unaltered."

On Wednesday evening the losing margin behind Young Merlin was just a nose, though stewards stated they were unable to apportion blame for the bumping and felt the incident had not materially affected the result.

Watch Wednesday's race in which Buckman Tavern again lost out

"To borrow from [legendary American Football coach] Vince Lombardi, sport is a game of inches and so Wednesday's verdict probably rankles a little bit more as we took our medicine the first time because of the distance we were beaten," Palin continued.

"They came together four times, once we bumped him, three times he bumped us. I think that, given the winning distance counted against us last week, it maybe should have been in our favour last night.

"Maybe if the four bits of contact had been 4-0 and not 3-1, the stewards would have felt able to turn it round."

Looking for a change of luck at York

Palin says that as with last week's incident, appealing would not be the "classy thing to do," and instead is looking forward to a better day with Buckman Tavern at York's Ebor meeting.

"He looks like he will stay further and, as he is off the identical mark of 81, we could wrap him up in cotton wool and aim for Timoshenko's race in 12 months' time.

Timoshenko provided Middleham Park with plenty to celebrate on Wednesday, despite the defeat of Buckman Tavern at Sandown later in the dayCredit: Mark Cranham

"But he hasn't won yet this year and we'll probably head for something like the Melrose. If we got the rub of the green up at York then I’m sure all of this would be forgotten.

"We've never had a runner in the Melrose and I’d love to have a winner of that race on our CV."

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