ON Thursday, the Disciplinary Panel of the BHA upheld an appeal lodged by Ian Williams against the decision of the stewards at Doncaster on October 22nd to let stand the result of a race in which the Williams-trained Banditry was a fast-finishing head second to Luca Cumani’s Laurence, who had caused interference when swerving into Banditry’s path inside the final furlong.

Many experienced race readers thought the decision made on the day was perverse, and it didn’t take the Disciplinary Panel long to determine that the original winner should have been demoted.