‘Complete cock up’ – jockey Neil Callan banned for 12 days and apologises after riding a finish a circuit too soon

Commentator Mark Johnston was equally taken by surprise, saying: “Ballet Blanc is clear by about five lengths but they still have got a circuit to go!”;

Callan then eased his horse down crossing the finishing line, believing he had pulled off a massive upset on his 50-1 shot.

But his joy turned to horror just a few seconds later as he watched the other jockeys set off on the second lap of the all-weather track.

Callan said: “I made a mistake – it was a complete cock-up. I watched the replay back [with the stewards] and held my hands up straight away.

“I’ve contacted Amanda (Perrett, trainer) to tell me the cost of what entry fees were and I will pay it.

“It’s something I never thought I’d do in my career.”;

The stewards report said: “Neil Callan, the rider of Ballet Blanc, unplaced, had appeared to ride a finish a circuit too soon.

“After being interviewed and shown recordings of the incident, the rider was suspended for 12 days.”;

There was an explosive reaction from fans on social media.

One said: “Oops – how on earth do you mix that up?”;

Another tweeted: “Poor Neil Callan but very funny nonetheless.”;

While another simply added: “Taxi for Callan!”;

Callan, who wrote for Sun Racing during the summer, has only recently returned to Britain after an 11-year stint in Hong Kong, where he rode 282 winners and was nicknamed ‘Iron Man’.

He rode a Group 1 winner at Newmarket earlier this month when outsider Fonteyn won the Sun Chariot Stakes.

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