Racing: Anger after 'winner' is placed last

Punters were left dumbstruck by the disqualification of Altay, an easy four-length winner, here yesterday. Altay, the 7-2 favourite, was placed last with Lanos, a 25-1 outsider, handed first place instead.

Altay's part-owner, John Potter, who travelled down from Scotland, said he was "disgusted". But he admitted that the pill of losing the race had been sweetened by the fact that several bookmakers had decided to pay out on the race before the result of the stewards' inquiry.

One leading bookmaker, Barry Dennis, had offered odds of 1-20 about Altay keeping the race. Just under £20,000 was matched on the Betfair betting exchange at odds of 1-100 before the inquiry was called.

Paul Hanagan, Altay's jockey, was found guilty of irresponsible riding of a major nature and banned for six days. He, and the horse's trainer, Richard Fahey, are likely to appeal. "They were so tight on the inside something was always going to happen and I don't think it was Paul's fault," Fahey said. Rachel Tonks, the stipendiary steward at the track, said the stewards were satisfied that Hanagan "made a manoeuvre whereby it should have been obvious that interference would occur". She admitted that the public would find it "quite difficult" to understand the decision.

* Prospects for jumps racing in Britain on Saturday diminished last night. Ascot officials were not hopeful because of frost and snow. Warwick remained unraceable yesterday. Uttoxeter will be inspected at 3.30pm today. All-weather racing is likely to be the order of the day again tomorrow with Kelso already abandoned and prospects for Huntingdon described as "negligible".