Eddery is battered by bans

NEWMARKET JULY MEETING: The former champion jockey endures a day disfigured by slim defeats and hefty punishments

Even a jockey with almost 4,000 winners to his credit expects fortune to deal him an occasional blow, but nothing could have prepared Pat Eddery for the painful, unequal bout with Lady Luck which he endured yesterday. Not content with landing a bruising combination in the morning, she followed him to Newmarket a few hours later and finished the job with an uppercut to the chin, a jab in the ribs and a knee to the groin, just to make sure.

So many misfortunes befell Eddery yesterday that the only sensible way to relate them is chronologically. It all started at Portman Square, where Eddery presented himself for sentencing on two charges of careless riding, his third and fourth riding offences of the season. For his ride on That Old Feeling at Windsor on 26 June, he was suspended for 12 days, 15 to 27 July. On 28 July, he will begin a seven-day holiday for an offence on Centurion at Epsom last Wednesday. The 19 days during which is banned include the King George meeting at Ascot and all five days of Glorious Goodwood.

Eddery left immediately after the hearing to travel to Newmarket, where he had six booked rides. He would have been better off going home to bed. Rio Duvida was unplaced behind Tagula in the July Stakes, Inquisitor likewise in the Duke of Cambridge Handicap. Then, in the Group Two Falmouth Stakes, his fortunes finally appeared to have turned. Gay Gallanta, Eddery's mount, accelerated brilliantly between horses in the final strides, and while Caramba was coming back on the line, few at the track - the bookmakers included - doubted that Gay Gallanta had held on.

The photograph, however, begged to differ. Caramba squeezed up by a short- head to give Lord Carnarvon, her owner, a third consecutive success in the contest, and just to twist the knife, Eddery might well have been riding her but for an unusually inept display on the filly in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) last month.

"Pat is a wonderful jockey but all jockeys make mistakes and I did think he rode a terrible race in the Diane," Carnarvon said. Caramba was a distant spectator at Longchamp before making up so much ground in the final two furlongs that she was beaten less than two lengths by Carling.

Yesterday's performance by Caramba was brave and impressive, particularly from a filly in only her fourth race, and who was losing her maiden status. A trip to York for the International Stakes next month would not embarrass her.

Whether Eddery will be in the running to ride is another matter. As Lord Carnarvon's celebrations continued in the winner's enclosure, rumours emerged from the stewards' room concerning Inquisitor, and in particular his erratic path shortly after the start of the previous race.

The officials decided that Eddery had tacked across several of his rivals barely five strides after the stalls had opened, causing at least two riders to snatch up. Eddery was found guilty of irresponsible riding, and you can only hope that he had the foresight to buy a season ticket for the Portman Square car park. He will be required to attend once again for sentencing, and may be facing one of the stiffest penalties seen on the turf since a 19th-century horse-poisoner was lynched on Newmarket Heath.

And still the fates had not finished with him. Riding Bequeath in the fifth race, Eddery seemed to have put the contest beyond dispute with half a furlong to run. Royal Circle and Kevin Darley caught him at the post. Thirty minutes later, Eddery had considerable difficulty persuading Trafalgar Lady to canter to post. He need not have bothered. The filly was withdrawn before entering the stalls.

In the circumstances, you could not have blamed him for refusing to leave the jockeys' room to partner New Reputation in the last. He did, and we should have seen the result coming.

New Reputation cantered in, earning his rider about pounds 500. Let us hope that Eddery enjoyed the moment. He may not have another like it for a very long time.