Jamie Moore appeals against 14-day ban after week of 'wretched bad luck'

Jockey Jamie Moore has lodged an appeal against a 14-day ‘non-trier’ ban given to him by Chepstow stewards on Wednesday which would rule him out of the Randox Health Grand National festival at Aintree next month.

Moore, 33, was given the suspension after stewards deemed he had not asked "for any timely, real or substantial effort" when finishing a never-nearer fourth on Kings Monarch in a 2m novices' hurdle for trainer Kerry Lee, who has also appealed her £3,000 fine. Kings Monarch was banned from racing for 40 days.

Speaking on Saturday, Moore said: “Myself and Kerry have put in for an appeal. I found the decision very hard to take and I was looking after the horse’s best interests; it’s the best race he’s ever run.”

The Racing Post's comments in running read: "Well off pace in midfield, 15 lengths 5th at halfway, kept on steadily from 2 out, given very easy time, never near leaders but signs of ability".

Moore found himself in the unenviable position of partnering the shortest-priced loser over jumps for more than 100 years at Ludlow on Thursday, when Tree Of Liberty, also trained by Lee, was turned over at 1-20 in a 2m novices’ chase.

Shortest-priced loser over jumps since 1909 as 1-20 shot turned over

“It’s amazing how something like that can happen,” Moore added. “The day after Chepstow the horse bursts [and bleeds] out of both nostrils at Ludlow, which is what we were trying to stop happening with the other horse.

“It’s wretched bad luck and you couldn’t make it up really. As Richard Lee, Kerry’s dad, said to me, when your luck’s out, your luck’s out.”

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