Winning punters hit with huge deduction as two withdrawals feature in SP

A hefty Rule 4 deduction applied to winning bets in the 7½f handicap at Lingfield on Friday evening after the betting included two horses that had been withdrawn prior to the race.

The BHA stewards’ report states the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Late Arrival was withdrawn due to the going at 18.25 and the Richard Spencer-trained One Step Beyond for the same reason at 18.30 for the race that was due off at 18.55.

Runners made it to the start but there was a delay to the race due to an issue with the circulation of the withdrawal information, with the two withdrawn horses remaining in the final betting at the off.

Late Arrival was a 6-5 favourite, leading to a Rule 4 deduction of 45p in the £1, while One Step Beyond was a 11-1 shot, so another 5p was deducted in the £1.

The stewards’ report read: “There was a delay to this race due to an issue with the dissemination of the withdrawal of Late Arrival and One Step Beyond.”

The race eventually took place at 19.08 after the 19.05 at Chepstow with victory going the way of the Rhys Clutterbuck-ridden Thechildren’strust for Gary Moore. He was a 16-1 shot in the betting but punters were hit with a 50p deduction.

A statement from the British Horseracing Authority and Arena Racing Company, owner of Lingfield, read: "We will be looking into the circumstances around the withdrawal of Late Arrival and One Step Beyond from the 6.55pm at Lingfield this evening with the racecourse and data partners as a matter of priority.

"We are aware that both bookmakers and punters will have been impacted by the horses remaining in the betting market despite having been withdrawn, and will investigate further to understand why the information was not communicated as it should have been.”

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