Watch: Callum Shepherd gets 18-day ban after dead-heat drama

Callum Shepherd was given an 18-day ban at Kempton on Wednesday night after stewards said he had failed to ride out to the line on Thorntonledale Max in the closing 7f handicap. 

Shepherd looked to have the race won on the David Simcock-trained three-year-old after hitting the front in the final furlong but Flavour Maker, the favourite, surged late and the judge was unable to split the pair.  

The stewards judged Shepherd to have dropped his hands before being joined on the line. The report from the stewards read: “Callum Shepherd, the rider of Thorntonledale Max, which dead-heated for first, had failed to ride out to the winning post. After being interviewed and shown recordings of the incident, Shepherd was suspended for 18 days for failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures on a horse which would have finished out-right first.” 

The suspension will begin on September 4 and last until September 21, meaning Shepherd will miss Haydock's Sprint Cup, Doncaster's St Leger fixture and the Ayr Gold Cup meeting. 

Shepherd seemed to use his whip five times in the final furlong, with his final reminder coming about 1.5 seconds before the post. 

Social media rushed to his defence, with many comparing his treatment to James Doyle, who escaped any punishment at Windsor on Monday after appearing to stop riding out when beaten a short head aboard No Retreat in a maiden. 

The video of the finish has been viewed about 180,000 times on Racing TV’s X and Facebook platforms, with approaching 500 comments being made. The vast majority have been supportive of the rider.

On Monday, the stewards accepted Doyle’s explanation that his mount jinked in the final strides, causing both the horse and Doyle to become unbalanced, requiring him to get a hold of No Retreat’s head. 

It remains to be seen whether Shepherd will appeal. He has a strong book of rides at Chelmsford this evening, with three of his six mounts trading at around Evens.