Moore’s champion jockey bid falls flat at Warwick

Moore went away with just one winner, however, courtesy of Al Janadeirya, who was sent off a hot favourite to take the British Stallion Studs Supporting British Racing EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

His chances of a second success aboard his final ride Cresta Star in the Chieftain Fabrics Handicap, won by Henry Clay, disappeared when he was unseated as his mount slipped on the home turn, causing the stewards to inspect the course before allowing the last race to be run.

And, having been treated for a broken wrist at Warwick Hospital, the jockey was highly critical of the Warwick surface which he believes was responsible for ending his title bid.

“It’s not the first time I have slipped and come off at Warwick. It’s fair to say it is not a course I am particularly fond of,” said Moore. “But I saw an incident like this coming before my fall.

“When I rode Cross My Heart in the earlier five-furlong maiden, she was not as balanced as she should have been and was very uneasy on the track and I said to Dane [O’Neill] and Adrian [Nicholls] after the race that I didn’t think the bend was going to ride too clever later on.

“In my opinion, the problem was that the grass was far too long and lush, and that can always cause problems, and when I went into the bend on Cresta Star I was never balanced. I had hold of her head, but when the favourite came round, I got a bit tight and she lost her back end and slipped.

“I don’t know the full extent of the problem until I go and see my normal doctor in Oxford, but I’ll obviously be out for a while. What really annoys me is that I think it was avoidable.”

There was no official response from the sport’s governing body, the British Horseracing Authority, which carried Moore’s criticisms in full on its website. But, Warwick’s clerk of the course Sulekha Varma said the correct procedures had been followed and there were no subsequent problems with the turn.

“The course was inspected after the fall, as is protocol in these situations,” said Varma.

“We took down three jockeys and two trainers who had runners in the last to see the track and, after putting down some sand, the race went off fine.”

The controversy marred a successful evening for the Warwick course, with the appearance of former UB40 frontman Ali Campbell helping boost the attendance.

Aubretia got favourite backers off to a good start when beating George Fenton and Gladiatrix to win the the Entertain Clients At Warwick Racecourse Apprentice Handicap.

Footballer Michael Owen flew in by helicopter to watch his Blue Jack run in the second, the Allinson Print Selling Stakes, but Franny Norton’s mount had to settle for the runner-up spot behind 12-1 shot Basilica, who was having his first outing for trainer Bill Turner.

Formerly trained by Jimmy Frost, Basilica has been plying his trade over jumps of late, but he had plenty of speed to take this six-furlong event, making all the running under apprentice Jake Payne to score by two-and-three-quarter lengths.

Newmarket handler William Haggis saddled newcomer Cross My Heart in the next, but Moore’s mount drifted in the betting to 10-1 and made no show behind the well-backed Fletcher Christian, who scored at the sixth time of asking when getting up close home to beat Clean Blow by a neck.

Trainer Eve Johnson Houghton said she was “looking for a really good run” from course winner Knight Charm in the Racing UK Nursery, but the top-weight was unable to live up to his billing, finishing only sixth behind Monkey Bar Flies, who prevailed in a tight finish from Dusty Storm to make the trip from Richard Fahey’s Malton stable worthwhile.

Hyde Lea Flyer won the finale at 16-1 before Campbell took to the stage for the course’s second music night of the summer.

There is racing again on Monday, when there will be a range of activities and entertainment for children, including a BMX slide, an assault course and pirate ship bouncy castle.

Free Radio will be hosting a stage, with guest appearances from Zak and Panzee from the ZingZillas,

Gates open at 12.10pm and tickets cost £20 for the main enclosure and £10 in the centre of the course, with children going free.