THIS is the criminal moment a jockey threw away victory on a 1-100 certainty before being heckled by punters in the winners enclosure.
Poor apprentice jockey Matthew Lloyd Slater, 22, thought he was going to be celebrating his first ever winner courtesy of 7-4 fav Blufferonthebus.
Racing TVBlufferonthebus was miles clear with a furlong to go of the 7f race[/caption]
Racing TVThe amateur jockey Matthew Lloyd Slater even had a cocky look over his shoulder[/caption]
Racing TVBut he failed to spot Nights Over Egypt flying home on his inside for the unlikeliest of wins[/caption]The pair surged six lengths clear with a furlong to go of a 7f sprint at Leicester on Monday.
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But Lloyd Slater was guilty of a monumental error as he slowed down thinking the race was sewn up.
He hit 1-100 in running only for George Wood on 6-1 Nights Over Egypt to absolutely fly home and win in the final strides.
It was an absolutely sickening finish that Lloyd Slater, who was having just his tenth career race, will surely rue for a long time.
He was immediately banned 28 days by stewards and there were unsavoury scenes in the winners enclosure as the jockey, who was riding for trainer Craig Lidster, walked in front of livid punters.
One who watched the race on TV said: The ban has to be severe. No excuses whatsoever. Its criminal that.
The stewards report read: Matthew Lloyd Slater, the rider of Blufferonthebus, placed second, beaten by a nose, had failed to ride out approaching the finish.
Being a 7lb. claimer Lloyd Slater was accompanied by a senior rider.
After being interviewed and shown recordings of the incident, Lloyd Slater was suspended for 28 days for failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to obtain the best possible placing on a horse that would have finished first.
Punters were totally up in arms over the finish.
One said: There is no legitimate reason not to ride to the finish.
Another wrote: Oh mate what are you doing?
While a third blasted: Shocking. What a terrible mistake.
Blufferonthebus, a three-year-old filly owned by a group including popular owner Nick Bradley, has won three times in 21 career races.
Lloyd Slaters meltdown came hot on the heels of punters also questioning Grand National-winning jockey Derek Foxs ride on Ahoy Senor at Aintree on Sunday.
ITV Racing host Oli Bell questioned the tactics on the Grade 1 winner, who flew home to finish third having been ridden cold out the back.
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