Amazement as trainer given £4,000 fine for non-trier at Doncaster

The stewards at Doncaster dished out a £4,000 fine to trainer Gary Hanmer and suspended conditional jockey William Shanahan for 18 days after judging Flaming Ambition as a non-trier in the 2m½f novice hurdle (3.20) on Thursday.

The five-year-old was making his first start for the Cheshire-based trainer and was sent off a 7-1 chance. He was held up throughout and stayed on to finish fourth, 13 and three-quarter lengths behind winner Geometrical.

The stewards report, however, states he appeared to be ridden "with a level of restraint" before staying on under what was described as a "tender hands and heels ride."

Hanmer was subsequently fined for "schooling and conditioning the horse on the racecourse" while Shanahan, whose suspension will run between February 24 and March 13, was deemed to "fail to ride his mount in such a way that he could be seen to ask for timely, real and substantial effort to obtain the best possible placing".

Hanmer told the Racing Post he was "disappointed" by the ruling and is considering an appeal against the decision following discussion with Flaming Ambition's owners.

He said: "I'll speak to the owners but they were amazed and, like us all, disappointed by what's happened, so we'll see what we'll do and go from there."

3.20 Doncaster: full result and race replay

In an interview with the stewards, as stated on the report, he accepted the rider could have done more to improve the horse's position earlier in the home straight but was satisfied with the ride with a view the horse would improve when tested over a longer distance.

Shanahan told the stewards his instructions were to drop in as the horse can be keen while he described the horse's jumping as "guessy at times", adding he heard a respiratory noise. He did not, however, report this at the scales.

In-running comment

Took keen hold, held up in rear, nudged along before 3 out, going okay but still plenty to do before 2 out, pushed along approaching last, stayed on run-in, eyecatcher

Flaming Ambition has also been suspended from running for 40 days.

The news continued a frustrating day for the trainer, whose only other runner at Doncaster, Steel Wave, was beaten by a nose despite trading at 1.01 on the Betfair Exchange.

Hanmer is enjoying his best season yet with a tally of 22 winners, smashing his previous high of eight.

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