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Pat Cosgrave was given a 28-day ban at Chelmsford on Thursday night after easing up on a hot favourite and dramatically snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Cosgrave was coasting to an easy win on the George Boughey-trained Concorde, the 1-6 favourite, in the Bosh Handicap over a mile at 8pm when taking things easy inside the final furlong.
It proved a costly misjudgement by the vastly experienced 40-year-old with My Roxanne, an 8-1 chance ridden by Ben Robinson, overhauling Concorde in the final stride. The winning distance was a nose.
Cosgrave was swift to apologise and admit his blunder.
"I sat last in the race; went through the gears in the straight and passed the [other] four horses," he said. "I’ve jut made a judgement of error , a mistake. The eventual winner has just caught me unaware.
“First of all, I’d like to apologise to the connections, Mr and Mrs Roy, also to my trainer, George Boughey. It’s a bit embarrassing, really. I just have to take it on the chin."
He added: "The horse should have won. I have to accept it was completely my fault. It’s very unfortunate for connections and all concerned. I’m very, very sorry for what happened.”
