Neil Callan free to ride after winning 'complex' appeal against eight-day ban

Neil Callan has been freed to ride over the next two Saturdays, having made a successful appeal against an eight-day suspension for improper riding.

The 43-year-old jockey was criticised by the Newmarket stewards recently for what they saw as an attempt to create running room en route to victory on Bague D'Or, but a three-hour review of all the evidence at an appeal hearing on Wednesday led to the conclusion that blame could not be apportioned for contact between several runners.

Josephine Gordon and Embolden were the chief sufferers in the incident, Gordon having to sit up and take her mount back as she was squeezed up. The stewards felt that was because Callan had moved left, away from the rail, pushing Caldwell on to Embolden as he did so.

But Rory Mac Neice, presenting Callan's case, told the panel: "There was no manoeuvre. Why would he command his horse to move left at that point in the race? It makes no sense. He's on a horse that he's been explicitly told to hold up for a run."

Under cross-examination by the BHA's Charlotte Davison, Callan insisted he had no thought of seeking room to run at that stage, more than three furlongs out. "I'm not looking for a gap because it's so far from home that I don't need to," he said.

"Mr Cosgrave [on the runner-up, Sea Appeal] is picking the pace up and moving forward. He's dragging me into the race. There's no need to look left or right."

'Very difficult to pinpoint where the blame lies'

Davison's argument was that Callan was worried he may be boxed in if he allowed Caldwell to move up on his left. The jockey responded: "I was content. I was happy to be there. There was no need for me to make a manoeuvre or to worry about being boxed in."

Brian Barker QC, chairing the panel, described the case as "complex and difficult ... The fact of the matter is, we find it very difficult to conclude where the original coming-together happened and why it happened. For that reason, it's very difficult to pinpoint where the blame lies.

"We particularly note that this all happened in a fraction of a fraction of a second. For a variety of reasons, we can't be satisfied that this was a deliberate manoeuvre."

That meant Callan could not be found guilty of improper riding.

Mac Neice said Callan was motivated to appeal because: "He reflected on the stewards' decision and felt strongly that it would benefit from a closer look. This is exactly what the appeal system is for."

Callan had been due to be suspended for the period July 2-9.

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