Fine Has Twiston-Davies Fuming Nigel Twiston-Davies was left seething by a £140 fine imposed by the British Horseracing Authority for withdrawing Ardaghey on Friday when he got a late call-up for the John Smith´s Grand National. The Gloucestershire trainer, who enjoyed some terrific performances from his runners, took the gelding out of the totepool Handicap Chase when he could replace Opera Mundi in the main event. "I´m very, very angry," said Twiston-Davies. "He got promoted into the National as a reserve. The owners are up here so he has to run somewhere. I´ve got a #140 fine - well done the BHA. "They can´t justify it but they just love fining people. I´m not allowed to run him today - it´s against the rules. Of course I´m going to appeal it. It´s the sort of bureaucracy and stupidity that we´re trying to get away from, I think. "If I was here deliberately breaking the rules, go for my throat, I don´t mind. But I´ve done nothing wrong here." William Nunnelly, a senior stipendiary steward of the BHA, was sympathetic but explained: "If you declare for a race like the Topham, there are always horses who get balloted out and by going in, he´s actually denied someone a run in the race. "You have to run in one race or the other and our hands are tied by the way the rules are written. It is in the rules - it´s not a guideline. "He has the right of appeal. Some say it´s unfair but the only thing in his favour is that the penalty fine changed in March and it would have cost a lot more if he did this last year." (C) PA Sport
