Shoemark's apprentice title hopes suffer big blow after ten-day ban

Kieran Shoemark's challenge for the apprentice crown took a significant hit on Wednesday when he was banned for ten days at Kempton.

The jockey, who is one win behind championship leader David Egan after winning the last race on Clowance One, was found guilty of failing to ride out the John Gosden-trained newcomer West Palm Beach in the two-year-old novice stakes for fillies.

West Palm Beach appeared to have secured second place after coming from the back in the final furlong to chase home race winner Verandah, also trained by Gosden, in the 7f contest but she was caught in the dying strides by Fille De Reve and beaten a short head.

A stewards inquiry ruled Shoemark had stopped riding shortly before the winning post and he was suspended from August 23 to September 1 inclusive.

Shoemark, who rode out his claim during a season that has also included a first Royal Ascot win, has ridden 26 winners to Egan's 27 and was 5-6 favourite with Paddy Power to win the Stobart-sponsored championship.

Martin Lane was in hot water at Yarmouth following a similar, though not identical, offence in a 1m6f handicap reduced to four runners and won very easily by Veiled Secret.

Lane appeared to briefly ease Orin Swift, who was beaten a head for second, between the two-furlong and one-furlong markers, before then riding out to the line.

Having heard his evidence and viewed recordings, the stewards found him guilty of failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to obtain the best possible placing and suspended him for seven days, from August 23 to 29 inclusive.