Callum Pritchard suffers blow in title race after Plumpton drama

Callum Pritchard, who is still in with a chance of being crowned champion conditional jockey this season, received a 12-day suspension after misjudging the winning line and easing up Sweet Nightingale with a circuit to run at Plumpton on Sunday.

The Polly Gundry-trained mare was the 2-1 joint-favourite for the BetGoodwin Super Nigel Boardman Novices’ Handicap Chase and held a healthy lead over her three rivals when passing the winning post heading out for the final circuit – but Pritchard’s decision to ease down meant she went from the front to the back of the field in a matter of strides.

Pritchard soon realised his error and Sweet Nightingale was back contesting for the lead at the top of the home straight, but she was ultimately beaten 10 lengths into third place as Milan Milos beat Delgany Deadline in a tight finish.

Pritchard is enjoying his best ever season with 39 winners to date, putting him just five behind Tristan Durrell, who currently leads the conditional championship. However, his hopes of bridging that gap have been dealt a major blow after he was given a hefty ban.

The British Horseracing Authority stewards’ report read: “Callum Pritchard, the rider of Sweet Nightingale, placed third, had appeared to mistake the race distance.

“Having established a reasonable lead on the run to the line with a circuit to race, he prematurely eased and thereafter only commenced the race having passed the winning post with a circuit to run. After being interviewed and shown recordings of the incident, the rider was suspended for 12 days.”

The feature event on the well-attended card was the BetGoodwin Sussex Champion Hurdle, in which the Emma Lavelle-trained Indemnity ran out a most impressive winner.

Always handy and travelling well for Ben Jones, once the 15-2 chance swept past leader and even-money favourite Mondo Man – who was too keen for his own good in front and not always fluent at his obstacles – the result was never going to be in doubt.