Adam Wedge banned after steering hot favourite around fence at Exeter

A jump jockey’s life is tough enough without self-inflicted injuries but two riders made things harder for themselves on New Year’s Day and will suffer suspensions as a result. Tom Bellamy was prevented from riding at Cheltenham after failing a pre-race breath test for alcohol, while Adam Wedge perhaps wishes he had been prevented from riding at Exeter, where he partnered an easy winner but was disqualified for missing a fence he should have jumped, prompting the stewards to give him a 21-day ban.

Wedge’s mistake was compounded by the fact that he was on a hot favourite, Report To Base, sent off at odds of just 4-7 to beat two others in a beginners chase. The horse led throughout, was never under serious pressure and had 26 lengths in hand as he crossed the line but those backers who were watching must have guessed at their fate, as Wedge had guided his horse past the third-last fence while the other two jumped it.

Tom Scudamore, who was eventually awarded the race for his ride on Valhalla, could be seen telling Wedge of his mistake soon after they crossed the line and offering a sympathetic pat on the arm. Wedge appeared disconsolate.

“There’s no explanation,” Wedge said later in comments to the Racing Post. “I apologise to everyone who backed the horse, the owners and the trainer, Evan Williams. I just had a brain freeze, I think. I can’t even tell you what happened to be honest. The first thing I knew was when Tom Scu told me.”

In Wedge’s defence, those riding at Exeter had to weave around several obstacles for various reasons all afternoon. In Report To Base’s race, just five fences were jumped instead of the usual 12, because of waterlogged ground around some fences and low sun making it difficult to see others.

Indeed, Exeter’s officials may themselves face action from the British Horseracing Authority, for failing to divert the runners around the water jump as they should have done. In the event, all three jockeys realised it was not to be jumped and went around it. According to the stewards’ report, all three therefore appeared, technically, to have taken the wrong course but the stewards decided to ignore that, owing to “exceptional circumstances”.

Meanwhile, Bellamy was stood down here, where he was due to take three rides, one of which was eventually third. His employer, Nigel Twiston-Davies, had nothing but sympathy for the 22-year-old, saying he had had two drinks on New Year’s Eve.

“We’re just devastated for him, really,” the Gloucestershire trainer said. “Absolutely devastated. Literally half a pint will put you over. His last drink was before 12 last night. He’s killing himself. It shouldn’t have happened but he’s just unlucky.”

Twiston-Davies suggested that being stood down for the day ought to be punishment enough. However, Bellamy is sure to get a suspension when he eventually appears before the BHA, the length of which will depend on how much alcohol was found in his sample.

Yanworth proved the star of Cheltenham’s card, atoning for a couple of failures in recent novice chases by landing the Dipper. His trainer, Alan King, said it was the 1,500th success of his career, though the horse made him sweat for it by slowing down on the run-in and scrambling home in front by just a neck.

“He’ll be the death of me,” King said. “I thought: ‘God, he’s gonna throw this away.’” However, the Wiltshire trainer was pleased to see an improved round of jumping from his stable star after a couple of intensive schooling sessions with Yogi Breisner. “It’s not straightforward but it was better today and it was good when he was short and that’s what we’ve been trying to do with him,” King said.

Barry Geraghty the winning jockey, said: “He’s still slow enough at one or two. He’s a bit to learn but he’s going the right way.”

Yanworth now heads the betting for the JLT at the Festival here in March but King intimated that the longer RSA might be more likely. He plans to give the horse a final prep-run, possibly in the Reynoldstown at Ascot next month.

Ayr 12.30 Caventara 1.00 Royal Salute 1.35 Better Getalong 2.10 Acdc 2.40 One For Harry 3.10 Titian Boy 3.45 Younoyounoyouno

Newcastle 3.35 Not So Sleepy 4.10 Dellaguista 4.40 Twin Appeal (nap) 5.10 Gracious John 5.40 Completion 6.10 Rosina 6.40 Shades Of Mist (nb)

Ffos Las abandoned (waterlogging)