Callum Shepherd: PJA lodges attraction over jockey’s 18-day ban following Kempton dead-heat controversy

The Skilled Jockeys Affiliation (PJA) has lodged an attraction on behalf of Callum Shepherd towards an 18-day ban following a controversial dead-heat end at Kempton.

Using the David Simcock-trained Thorntonledale Max within the seven-furlong handicap on Wednesday August 21, Shepherd was discovered to have failed “to take all reasonable and permissible measures on a horse which would have finished outright first” after Flavour Maker grabbed a share of the primary prize on the road.

Nonetheless, Shepherd has expressed his doubt concerning the dead-heat name, and consequently the choice to impose a prolonged ban for his experience.

Shepherd is presently set to be out of motion from September 4-21 inclusive, a interval which encompasses the St Leger assembly at Doncaster and the Ayr Gold Cup fixture.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) will verify a date for the attraction in the end.

Talking final week, Shepherd instructed the Nick Luck Every day Podcast: “To my eyes, and the eyes of everybody who has checked out it intimately, I believe it reveals a transparent hole between the Roger Varian-trained horse [Flavour Maker] and the road. We’re very a lot on and thru the road.

“It was 8.30pm, the final race, it was darkish however all you need to do is put your cellphone on full brightness and I believe it is fairly obvious to everybody who appears that it is likely to be a small margin, however there’s a distinct hole and a margin in our favour.

“It’s one they have got wrong, I feel.

“A dead-heat in every other circumstance would appear fairly inoffensive, nevertheless it have to be mentioned on this particular case it’s totally, essential to me, whatever the accusation that I might stopped using, which I utterly refute.

“The most straightforward process of dealing with it is to address the photo and I think it’s pretty clear an error has been made and we were the outright winner.”