'The racing public were let down' – Williams demands Market Rasen solution

Ian Williams has urged the BHA to do all it can to ensure there is no repeat of last month's Market Rasen dead-heat controversy, when the judge was unable to split his novice chaser Royal Village and the Richard Newland-trained Whoshotwho after having no mirror image available to him.

The trainer’s appeal against the decision proved unsuccessful, with the BHA confirming the original result would stand on Thursday.

Williams reflected on Friday: "There are no sour grapes about sharing the prize – none at all. However the racing public and the sport’s owners and trainers have all been let down when the Market Rasen officials cannot decide who has won a race because the technology, namely the mirror image, isn't available. In 2018 that just seems ridiculous.

Ian Williams: lost appeal over Royal Village dead-heat decisionCredit: Dan Abraham

"Surely we are entitled to a fair and honest result? Either Market Rasen could reconfigure its track or they could invest in a second camera.

"It’s a matter for both the BHA and Racecourse Association, and I have asked Rupert Arnold [chief executive of the National Trainers Federation] to take it up with them.”

Market Rasen stages its first meeting since that controversial incident on Sunday with an eight-race card, and Williams added: “I hope the situation has been rectified in time for the next meeting there.”

The problem at Market Rasen, which is owned by Jockey Club Racecourses, arose from the track not having access to an in-field camera, which costs approximately £25,000.

Connections of Royal Village were unhappy with the result of the novices’ handicap chase on the Summer Plate day card, believing their horse had won, and asked the BHA to review it.

The print of the photo-finish strongly suggested Royal Village had edged out Whoshotwho, but with Royal Village's head obscuring his rival's, judge Nick Bostock felt he had to call a dead-heat.

Members can read the latest exclusive interviews, news analysis and comment available from 6pm daily on racingpost.com