De Sousa suspended for seven days for failing to obtain best possible place

Champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa was given a seven-day ban at Chelmsford on Friday night for failing to obtain the best possible placing on Massam, who finished fourth in the 7f novice stakes.

The stewards decided De Sousa appeared to stop riding the Mark Johnston-trained juvenile shortly before the winning post to be beaten by a nose for third by Zmhar, in a race won by the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Jfoul.

With seven runners in the race each-way terms concerned only the first two, but there was a £550 difference in prize-money between third and fourth.

De Sousa, who will be suspended between July 20-26, has a sizeable lead over nearest pursuer Danny Tudhope in the Stobart Flat jockeys' championship.

Tudhope continued his recent hot spell on Friday with a double at Doncaster in the afternoon before adding a third at Beverley in the evening.

However, De Sousa hit back with a winner apiece at Sandown and Chelmsford, leaving his lead over Tudhope at 18 (63-45).

Coral have De Sousa at 1-10 to maintain his crown with James Doyle, who took his tally to 37 with a double at Chelmsford, next best at 9-1 and Tudhope priced at 10-1.

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