Controversy abounded at Plumpton yesterday when an ambulance got stuck on the course during a race and later a trainer and jockey were fined and banned over an alleged "non trier".

The November Novices' Hurdle started badly and got worse. Brackenheath and Barry Fenton fell at the first flight and brought down Rich Tycoon and Robert Thornton. Both jockeys stayed on the floor and an ambulance came onto the track to drive down to them, but got stuck with wheels spinning on the run in.

This meant that the first two hurdles in the straight had to be dolled off and the rest of the field only jumped eight of the scheduled 12 flights.

Thornton and Fenton were unhurt and the race went to Iranos, the 4 to 7 favourite, trained by Martin Pipe and ridden by Tony McCoy.

The ambulance had to be pulled off the course by a tractor and the final hurdle of the closing race was omitted because of the churned up state of the track on the run in.

Geoff Stickels, clerk of the course, said: "The standing orders for the employment of medical services on this course are very clear. They state that no ambulance must go onto the track while racing is in progress.

"The vehicle was on the inner road near the winning post at the time of the incident when the course doctor presumably called for two ambulances. "It then went onto the course to drive down to the first hurdle in the straight and got stuck."

Trainer Gardie Grissell and jockey Barry Fenton were hit by the stewards under the "non trying" rule 151.

Grissell was fined £500 and Fenton banned for seven days (November 26th-29th and December 1st-3rd) after Buckland Lad had finished second to Antonio Mariano in the George Ripley Memorial Handicap Chase.

Buckland Lad was soon well behind after the start and appeared to have no chance from the eighth fence. The gelding then ran on from four out, taking second approaching the last, but having no chance with the winner.

After the stewards verdict Grissell was fuming. He said: "This is outrageous. In 20 years of training I have never sent out a non trier and never backed any of my own horses.

"My jockey rode a good race, as the others went off too fast in the heavy ground. Buckland Lad was running through tired horses at the end.

"This is a slur upon my character and I shall appeal."