Jockey Dylan Kitts referred to BHA for Worcester ride

Dylan Kitts has been referred to the BHA by the stewards at Worcester and his mount Hillsin banned from racing for 40 days after a dramatic finale to Wednesday’s jumps card at Worcester.

Held up in rear by Kitts in the concluding Wacky Weekender Festival Pitchcroft 21st-23rd July Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, Hillsin made eye-catching headway in the straight but under tender handling finished third - two and a quarter lengths adrift of the winner Bensini.

The in-running comments on the racingtv.com results page - provided by the Press Association - read: “Held up in rear, headway on outside from 5th, lost ground on leaders 3 out but yet to be asked for any effort, closed last, very tenderly handled flat, went 3rd inside final 100 yards, stayed on.”

Hillsin was making his second start for Devon trainer Chris Honour and owner F A Clegg after previously being based with Claire Harris, another West Country trainer also operating from Devon. The Hillstar gelding is still a maiden after 17 starts but has placed in both of his latest completed starts in recent months.

The ride was the sole mount of the day for Kitts, who has ridden 11 winners so far under Rules from 94 rides on the racecourse. Honour has trained 22 winners from 169 runners, sending out his first runner as a licensed trainer back in January 2015.

The published BHA stewards report after the race read: "An enquiry was held into the running and riding of HILLSIN (IRE), ridden by Dylan Kitts and trained by Chris Honour, which was restrained at the start and dropped out early to settle at the rear of the field, before gradually improving its position throughout the final circuit to be prominent rounding the home bend, whereupon the gelding travelled strongly down the home straight, without appearing to ever be asked for its finishing effort and finished third of eleven runners, beaten 1¼ lengths.

"The rider and the trainer were interviewed and shown recordings of the race. The Veterinary Officer reported that two post-race examinations of HILLSIN (IRE) failed to reveal any abnormalities. The rider stated his instructions were to drop HILLSIN (IRE) out early, keep a good hold of the horses head and take his time, before mounting a late challenge. Kitts explained that the gelding settled well and found a nice jumping rhythm, and he had been able to make ground easily mid-race when the pace steadied up, however HILLSIN (IRE) made a respiratory noise towards the end of the back straight, which continued on several more occasions throughout the race, and the gelding had also hung badly right-handed, both facts he had reported at scales and which restricted his ability to be more vigorous in the home straight.

"The trainer confirmed the instructions and that HILLSIN (IRE) had been ridden in accordance with them, however whilst acknowledging the gelding had hung-right handed, he did express concerns over the manner in which HILLISIN (IRE) was ridden specifically from jumping the last hurdle. Honour also reiterated that he had emphasised to the rider that HILLSIN (IRE) needed to be held together for as long as possible based on his analysis of the gelding’s run at Exeter two starts back, where he didn’t get home for a different yard. The matter was referred to the Head Office of the British Horseracing Authority and HILLSIN (IRE) was suspended from running in any race for 40 days."