Racing: Lady ahead in dead-heat

THE RESULT of Saturday's Captain Quist Hurdle at Kempton is likely to be altered by the Jockey Club as the judge at the meeting, Jane Stickels, has decided that her original decision to call the race a dead-heat was incorrect. Stickels originally took 20 minutes to decide that Absalom's Lady and Large Action had dead-heated at the end of the two-mile race. But after Absalom's Lady's owner, Peter Bolton, and trainer, David Elsworth, saw the photo-finish print they asked the judge to re-examine it because they believed that the grey had got her nose in front on the line.

Stickels looked at the print again, agreed that she had made a mistake and will recommend to the Jockey Club that the result be amended.

According to David Pipe, the director of public affairs at the Jockey Club, the judge has to put forward a written report within five days, stating why she wants the result changed. They are likely to accept her revised opinion.