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Connections, punters, and jockeys have voiced their frustration over yesterday's Epsom Dash which saw four of the stalls open considerably later than the remaining sixteen.
Following a review of the start, the stewards decided the chances of the four runners in stalls sixteen to twenty were not "materially impacted" by the start and opted to take no further action.
In the BHA stewards report it was stated:
"Stewards interviewed the starter who explained that the stalls were tested prior to the race, as per normal procedure, and found them to be functioning correctly. They therefore noted that Alligator Alley, drawn 14, anticipated the start, accelerated and broke open the gates shortly before the start was effected resulting in the rider, Jason Watson, becoming unbalanced. The stewards were satisfied Alligator Alley had gained no advantage as a result of this incident."
"They further noted that stalls 16, 18, 19 and 20 had opened fractionally slower than the balance of the field."
The horses affected: Lihou (stall 18), 6-1 favourite Live In The Moment (stall 20), 15-2 chance Vintage Clarets (19) and 8-1 Ancient Times (stall 16) all failed to figure having lost a handful of lengths at the start with Richard Fahey's Vintage Clarets faring best back in fourteenth.
Jockey Kieran O'Neill, who rode the 6-1 favourite Live In The Moment from stall twenty, took to Twitter to say: "In the words of the BHA 'not materially affected' in the fastest 5f race ran… the gates 'marginally slower to open' 75% of the field had jumped before some had even opened. Drawn 20 my horse's head nearly got stuck on the centre!".
Alice Haynes, trainer of Live In The Moment also took to Twitter to vent her frustrations.
"Ridiculous - draw 16-20 were massively effected due to the gates being triggered by draw 14 hitting them. Live in the moment jumped in hearing the others open, however his gate was not open, in turn causes a turn of events, leaving a significant amount of low draws advantageous."
The George Boughey-trained 25/1 chance Navello, drawn in stall five, had no such issues and clung on gamely to beat Silky Wilkie by a short-head.
