The rules are severe on obtaining the best possible placing for good reason

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - JULY 04: Clerk of the Course George Hill in the stewards box at Brighton racecourse on July 4, 2017 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

The stewards at Nottingham found Jason Watson had not made every effort to obtain the best possible positionCredit: Alan Crowhurst

At first glance a decision to uphold the Nottingham stewards' ruling, while simultaneously reducing the length of Jason Watson's ban to below the suggested range of penalties, might look like the worst example of a British fudge.

Noisy Night dived to the left coming out of the stalls and was 12 lengths adrift by the time Watson got him back on an even keel.

Did the judicial panel conclude that Jason Watson didn't really do anything to offend the sensibilities of most reasonable race-watchers in letting him coast home, but that the letter of the law requires it to uphold the original verdict?

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Scott BurtonFrance correspondent

Published on 27 May 2021inNews

Last updated 20:00, 27 May 2021

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