Shepherd ‘completely refutes’ ruling of stewards at Kempton

Callum Shepherd has questioned the judge’s decision to call a dead- heat in the last race at Kempton on Wednesday night – a verdict which resulted in an 18-day suspension for the rider.

Riding the David Simcock-trained Thorntonledale Max in the seven-furlong handicap, Shepherd was found to have failed “to take all reasonable and permissible measures on a horse which would have finished outright first” after Flavour Maker grabbed a share of the first prize on the line.

However, Shepherd has expressed his doubt about the dead-heat call and consequently the decision to impose a lengthy ban for his ride.

He told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast: “To my eyes and the eyes of everyone who has looked at it in detail, I think it shows a clear gap between the Roger Varian-trained horse (Flavour Maker) and the line. We’re very much on and through the line.

“It was 8.30pm, the last race, it was dark but all you have to do is put your phone on full brightness and I think it’s pretty apparent to everyone who looks that it might be a small margin, but there is a distinct gap and a margin in our favour.

“It’s one they have got wrong I feel.

“A dead-heat in any other circumstance would seem pretty inoffensive but it must be said in this specific case it’s very, very important to me, regardless of the accusation that I’d stopped riding, which I completely refute.

“The most straightforward process of dealing with it is to address the photo and I think it’s pretty clear an error has been made and we were the outright winner.”

Shepherd is currently set to be out of action from September 4-21 inclusive, a period which encompasses the St Leger meeting at Doncaster and the Ayr Gold Cup fixture.

Confirming his attention to appeal the ban, Shepherd added: “I just refute the allegation that I gave the horse anything but the best chance to win the race. Regardless of the photo, I’m pretty upset by that. It’s just insulting to riders to be accused of that and I will be taking action.”