Da Silva sandstorm an example of the sport making a rod for its own back

The sandstorm flicked up at Chelmsford last week by Raul da Silva seems to have run its course but as The Lion King’s wise Rafiki told Simba of the past, “you can either run from it or learn from it” and here, rather than just move on, there is plenty that can be learned.

The rider, despite still believing he “did the right thing” – a view supported by the horse’s trainer – took his one-day ban on the chin. That ban was for gently throwing a small amount of Polytrack on to the hind quarters of his mount, who as fate would have it was named Sandkissed, to encourage her to load. The Professional Jockeys Association has written to the BHA for clarification over what it said “many horsemen strongly believe is just a ridiculous rule”.

For its part the BHA will hopefully review the episode.