JOCKEY REPENTANT OVER RIDE

OLIVER REPENTANT FOR LEICESTER GAFFE

Henry Oliver issued a profuse apology for dropping his hands aboard Robin Dickin's Prairie Minstrel at Leicester on Monday.

With the Prima Handicap Chase at his mercy, Oliver eased up in the final 100 yards and 5-4 favourite Lambrini Mist robbed the duo at the death.

The jockey was hit with the mandatory 28-day ban for the error and will be out of action between November 24 and December 22.

When quizzed about why jockeys sometimes ease up before the finish, Oliver said: "Probably because we're looking after the horses but at the same time I'm at fault.

"There's no-one else to blame and I put my hands up.

"To anyone involved or had a punt on the horse I'm sorry. I've been riding for 10 years, I've never done that before and all I can say is I'm sorry.

"To Mr Dickin, the horse is his pride and joy and the horse hasn't run a lot anyway.

"I had been riding him out though and it's just a riding error but I can't rectify it.

"It's done now and all I can do is try and work hard and get back."

Oliver does not believe upping the punishment beyond a 28-day suspension would reduce the chances of other riders making similar mistakes in the future.

"I think it'll still happen at some point because it's not as though I wanted to get beat on the horse," he reasoned.

"All I want to do is ride winners and the last thing I ever wanted to happen was that.

"It's hard enough to get rides and get going as it's a hard old game.

"I'm obviously not going as well as the top boys at the minute but I'm just starting to get a few rides and it'll cost about £2,500-3,000 (in missed riding fees) and I'm struggling already.

"I've ridden winners around the track before and it was just a proper, poor mistake.

"That's all I can say and just apologise to everybody," he told At The Races.

..www.sportinglife.com