Mark Crehan banned for 28 days after mistaking winning post at Doncaster

Apprentice Mark Crehan has been suspended for 28 days for failing to ride out Aerion Power for first place in the LMD Vacuum Excavation Handicap at Doncaster on Saturday evening.

The 3lb claimer mistook the half-furlong marker for the winning post when in front on the Sir Michael Stoute-trained three-year-old.

Colony Queen, trained by John Mackie and ridden by Connor Beasley, took advantage to score by a neck. Spanish Archer was just a nose away in third place.

Crehan is banned from July 31 to August 27 inclusive.

The stewards report on britishhorseracing.com read: “Having heard his evidence and viewed recordings of the race, they found he had mistaken the ½ furlong marker for the winning post and as such had stopped riding prematurely. Crehan was found in breach of Rule (F)37 and guilty of failing to ride out on a horse that would have finished first and was suspended for 28 days.”

Winning jockey Connor Beasley said on Sky Sports Racing: "It was a bit of a tactical race. She won at Carlisle the other day and today she travelled lovely and was doing her best work the further we went. It's great for the owners and the John Mackie team."

Crehan, who rode just one winner in 2020, has enjoyed a breakthrough season this year and, with 17 winners, is second behind rising star Marco Ghiani in the apprentice title race.

The 23-year-old guided Oscula to victory in the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom on Oaks day in June and has enjoyed a successful partnership with trainer George Boughey over the past few months.