Racing: Riders lose appeal

The five jump jockeys who had appealed against seven-day bans for taking the wrong course at Taunton last week had their plea turned down yesterday.

The riders - Tony McCoy, Guy Lewis, Tom Dascombe, Mark Richards and Mick Fitzgerald - had their deposits of pounds 240 returned.

Fitzgerald, who will miss the ride on Rough Quest in the Hennessy, defended his actions. "If you were in behind the leaders, as I was on Rainbow Walk, you could not see the arrows which were pointing to the right route," he said. "In future I will pull if I'm not sure - and where will that get me?"