Hughes to appeal three-day ban after disqualified winner at Carlisle

Brian Hughes has lodged an appeal against the three-day ban imposed by the Carlisle stewards on Monday.

Hughes, who is chasing a first jump jockeys’ championship, was found in breach after weighing in light following victory aboard the James Ewart-trained Bingo D’Olivate in the second division of the Introducing Racing TV Handicap Hurdle.

The clerk of the scales lodged an objection, with the market leader subsequently disqualified and Hughes suspended “as he had failed to draw the correct weight”. Ewart was handed a £750 fine.

A report from the stewards read: “The clerk of the scales objected to the winner, Bingo D’Olivate, ridden by Brian Hughes, and trained by James Ewart on the grounds of the rider weighing in at 11st having weighed out at 11st 5lb.

“Bingo D’Olivate was disqualified and the placings were revised as follows: 1st Dequall, 2nd Ballydonagh Boy, 3rd Emissaire and 4th Notwhatiam. The rider, the trainer, the trainer’s representative, a member of racecourse management, the raceday assistant and the clerk of the scales were interviewed.

“Hughes was suspended for three days as he had failed to draw the correct weight. James Ewart was fined £750 as the cause of the weight loss could not be established.”

Now on 128 winners for the campaign, Hughes is due to be out of action on March 2-4, but the Professional Jockeys Association announced his intention to appeal within a matter of hours of the suspension in a tweet.

Having started the day 16 winners ahead of the currently-sidelined Richard Johnson, Hughes had added another to his tally when taking the opening race at the Cumbrian venue aboard 4-9 favourite Sao Maxence, also for Ewart.