Winston picks up ban at Newcastle

The jockey Robert Winston was given a five-day suspension when found guilty of irresponsible riding of a major nature at Newcastle yesterday. The offence was committed upon Papi Special, who was disqualified and placed last after finishing second to Free in the Go Racing 7 Days A Week with the Racing Channel Handicap.

The jockey Robert Winston was given a five-day suspension when found guilty of irresponsible riding of a major nature at Newcastle yesterday. The offence was committed upon Papi Special, who was disqualified and placed last after finishing second to Free in the Go Racing 7 Days A Week with the Racing Channel Handicap.

There was an inquiry into an incident along the back straight and stewards' secretary Nick Vigors said: "The jockey make a manoeuvre to the left when he should have known that Dean Mernagh on Noirie was there and he caused interference.

Because Noirie was unplaced, under the rules Papi Special had to be placed last as the horse which causes interference has to be placed behind the horse with which heinterfered."

Winston will be sidelined from 18-22 August inclusive but admitted: "It was my own fault. I did wrong and tightened them up on the bend. Rules are rules and I have to take the punishment."

The David Barker-trained Petongski improved on his debut run behind the smart Prizeman at York to win the two-year-old six-furlong maiden in good style under Fergal Lynch. Barker has always thought a great deal of Petongski. He said: "We will now have to think about the Redcar Two Year Old Trophy in October for him. He may not have beaten a great lot today but he did it well and there is improvement in him yet."

The jockey Lindsay Charnock must wait until the end of this month before he finds out whether he can plan his return to race-riding. He has been out of action since January with a groin problem that has required five operations. Charnock is hoping that the latest surgery at King Edward VII Hospital in London has done the trick.

He said yesterday: "I had the operation on 26 July and I've got to go back on the 29th of this month to see my specialist to get it scanned and see how everything is. He seemed confident in the operation that it had all gone well. I've got to wait for it to settle and the swelling to go down."