Racing: Balding appeals against stewards' Ebor decision

Toby Balding has decided to appeal against the decision of the York stewards to let Mephisto keep the Ebor Handicap on Wednesday.

Toby Balding has decided to appeal against the decision of the York stewards to let Mephisto keep the Ebor Handicap on Wednesday.

Mephisto veered left towards Gold Ring, trained by Balding, in the final furlong of the £200,000 handicap and delivered a slight bump before winning by a short-head. A stewards' inquiry followed but Mephisto was eventually confirmed the winner, with his rider, Darryll Holland, suspended for one day for careless riding. Balding has made his decision after studying a tape of the race and consulting Gold Ring's owner, Bridget Swire.

"She is perfectly happy to accept whatever I think we should do, so we are going to appeal," he said. "Having seen the race recording I am sure an appeal is justified and I am confident we will be able to prove that the interference affected the result. Darryll Holland did nothing to correct his horse, for which the stewards gave him a one-day holiday."