Morrison: 'The BHA is there to protect horse and rider - this is the opposite'

Hughie Morrison expressed his dismay on Thursday night after an appeals panel dismissed a case brought jointly by him and his fellow trainer Ed Walker over the result of the Bronte Cup at York last month.

The two trainers alleged that Ray Dawson was guilty of dangerous riding in light of his mount, Believe In Love, crossing the track and interfering with their runners, Urban Artist and Glenartney, who finished second and third.

Their case was dismissed after a four-hour hearing by an appeals panel, who said there was "a high bar" in place for dangerous riding and the circumstances of this case did not meet it. They pointed out that Dawson had been suspended for eight days for careless riding by the stewards on the day.

Ed Walker and Hughie Morrison were unhappy with the way Believe In Love (left, on the rails) carried Glenartney (blue, partly hidden by the winner) and Urban Artist (centre, pick) across the track at YorkCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Describing himself as "very disappointed" by the outcome, Morrison added: "The BHA is there to protect horse and rider and to discourage riding like this, but by rewarding the connections it's done the opposite. In virtually any other sport or racing jurisdiction, this sort of behaviour would not be tolerated. The BHA are not prepared to face up to their responsibilities."

Morrison and Walker pressed Dawson as to whether he had made a deliberate manoeuvre on Believe In Love, which he denied, or whether he had done enough to keep her straight. Dawson said he had sought to straighten her by shifting his weight to the left and using his whip in his right hand but acknowledged it would have been better to put both hands on the reins.

"This is clearly a case of a jockey trying to win at all costs," Morrison told the panel in summing up. Walker added: "I strongly believe this was dangerous riding. PJ McDonald [on Urban Artist] took himself out of harm's way. Had he not done that, that would have potentially led to him going down or going into the back of my horse, Glenartney. That is severe interference, surely."

Both trainers asked for Believe In Love to be disqualified or at least demoted, but Rory Mac Neice, defending Dawson, said: "This is a case of a rider taking insufficient steps rather than no steps at all. None of the evidence given by any of the riders came close to saying what is required to make out the presence of serious interference."

The panel will publish full reasons in due course but it appeared to accept Mac Neice's reasoning in allowing the stewards' decision to stand. "It's a high bar to show dangerousness and we have to deal with the rules as they are and not as you suggest they might be," Brian Barker, the panel chairman, told Morrison.

Crawford 'very disappointed' after panel reverses controversial Cartmel result

Earlier, the panel reversed a recent decision by stewards at Cartmel and reinstated Finest View as the winner of a handicap hurdle, she having been demoted for interfering with Island Mahee. That left Stuart Crawford, trainer of the runner-up, frustrated about not having been able to express his own view.

Lengthy arguments were presented by Mac Neice on behalf of Finest View's connections, and also by Charlotte Davison, a barrister employed by the BHA. She contended that the stewards' verdict was correct and should be allowed to stand.

"Obviously, the BHA are keen to uphold the decision of their stewards," Crawford said. "I just feel that I may have added a little bit more opinion and weight to it. It's very disappointing that's the way it's panned out."

The BHA said that trainers in Crawford's situation are allowed to address the panel and it believed he had been offered such an opportunity. But Crawford said the only communication he had received left him in no doubt that his role at the hearing was purely as an observer.

The incident

Finest View (left) moves towards the final bend under Cannon

The run of Island Mahee appears to be checked by Finest View

Finest View and Cannon begin to assert on the home straight

Finest View finishes a neck clear but is demoted by stewards

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