Ascot Result

Cascova (IRE) wore ear plugs.

An enquiry was held into the circumstances surrounding the start of Race 2.

The Starter and the Clerk of the Course were interviewed.

The Starter explained that on the first 2 efforts made to start the race Faivoir (FR) and Torn And Frayed (FR) had broken into a canter.

As the horses were a sufficient distance from the starting tape, the jockeys communicated with the Starters and elected to turn their mounts away from the start, in order to prevent a False Start.

After re-grouping and then trying to start the race with all of the runners now walking in, the starting mechanism failed to release the starting tape, resulting in a False Start.

As a result, the race was then started by flag and on this occasion Cascova (IRE) refused to race and was deemed to be a runner.

The Starter further explained that the starting tape had worked for Race 1 and during normal pre-race checks prior to Race 2.

The Clerk of the Course explained that the starting mechanism will be replaced with a spare prior to Race 3 and that the reason for the fault with the original starting mechanism will be investigated.

Their comments were noted and passed on to the Head Office of the British Horseracing Authority.