David Casey admitted yesterday that he made a mistake when apparently "caught napping" on Hulysse Royal at Kempton on Saturday. The Waterfordman was handed a 14-day ban by the stewards after his mount went down by a neck to Audacter in the Pertemps CBS Handicap Hurdle.
He had seemed to have the race in safe-keeping and it was adjudged that he had failed to ride out sufficiently for first place.
Casey hinted that he may appeal over the harshness of the suspension which forces him to miss big meetings at Sandown and Newbury.
"I may appeal against the severity of the ban as the horse got very, very tired in the last 50 yards of the race and events have since proved me correct as he left the saddling enclosure very stiff after receiving attention from the vets," he said.
Injury-plagued hurdler Dato Star was given a clean bill of health yesterday after his runaway victory at Haydock on Saturday.
Trainer Malcolm Jefferson forecast he will run a "big, big race" in the Champion Hurdle, for which the gelding has been slashed to second favouritism.
He said: "I just hope it is genuine good jumping ground - and obviously the softer the better."
Desert Orchid's trainer David Elsworth yesterday announced he is to turn his back on jump racing at the end of the season. The former National Hunt champion revealed he has "lost his appetite" for preparing horses for the winter game.
Concerns over "physical welfare" in a sport which can take a heavy toll on horses have led to the decision.
But Elsworth, who has won virtually every big race over the sticks including the Grand National with Rhyme `N' Reason in 1988, stressed he has no plans to retire and has his "best-ever bunch" of horses prepared for the Flat season.
He said: "I am not enjoying it any more, it is a change of attitude on my part and what is the point in doing something you don't enjoy?
"It is a great sport and I love most of the people in jumping and I will still watch it but I have lost my appetite for the training because of the physical welfare aspect."
