DAVY Russell and connections of Zabana have every right to be aggrieved after the jockey was unseated as the tape was raised for the JLT Novices. In the first instance, there were only nine runners and you would think that any starter should be able to get that number of horses lined up in a straight line and well off the tape, and send everyone off to a fair start. Especially in a Grade 1 race at the showcase meeting. The investigation (predictably) found that procedures were in order.

Opinions were divided on Channel 4 as to where any blame lay but Racing UK’s Steve Mellish was more correct in saying: “I think the starter was at fault. It should have been obvious Zabana had begun to turn before the flag was lowered. It was a ragged start at best.” Replays from the head on angle on the channel reinforced this, that Zabana was sideways to the tape when the flag was dropped. Not only that, there was someone with a long tom whip urging the runners forward and further spooking Zabana as he turned.