Nicholls gets 12 days in double ban Adrian Nicholls was left reeling from a double suspension that will rule him out for 12 days following his win on Bodfari Pride at Lingfield today. Nicholls was in double trouble in the first few strides of the Tote Placepot Handicap, being guilty of irresponsible riding of a minor nature, for which he was banned for seven days, and for not riding to his draw, for which, as a fourth offence inside 12 months, he was hit with a further seven days. He was found to have caused interference to the two horses immediately on his inside, and although one of them was the eventual half-length runner-up, Blackheath, the stewards did not see sufficient grounds to disqualify Bodfari Pride. The ban (from May 21-26 and May 28-June 2 inclusive) rules the jockey out of meetings which include the busy Whitsun Bank Holiday programme and the valuable Coral Sprint Handicap at Newmarket, a race in which his father David Nicholls would be expected to have a strong representation. Nicholls was visibly shocked as he left the course and said: 'I can`t believe I`ve got 12 days, but there`s not a lot I can do about it.' Bodfari Pride`s win did at least prove that a high draw remains an advantage in Lingfield sprints. The winner was drawn 18 of the 20 runners, runner-up Blackheath was berthed in 20, with the third Pure Elegancia in 16 and Ready To Rock in 17. 'He had a great draw and everything was right for him today,' said Nicholls`s representative Michael 'Kipper' Herrington. 'The ground was still just about all right. He prefers a bit of cut and I`d say that was good ground out there.' The opinion that the ground was riding quicker than the official 'good to soft' - it was amended to being 'good in places' after the fifth race - was given added weight following the victory of John Dunlop`s Red N` Socks, the 5-2 favourite, in the Damian Dwan Classified Stakes. Red N` Socks was always handy under Pat Eddery to beat Choto Mate by one and three-quarter lengths after which Robert Hamilton, Dunlop`s travelling head lad, remarked: 'I think that bowling along and fast ground is what suits him. We`d been worried about the ground all week, but Pat said it was good ground out there. 'The horse had the form to win a race like this, and he`s been fancied a few times in good races in his career.' Whitbarrow, the most expensive yearling trainer Rod Millman has bought, landed a gamble for those in the know in the EBF R R Richardson Maiden Stakes. The two-year-old, who had cost 32,000 Irish guineas last year, was forced from 6-1 to 7-2 in the wake of a torrent of late support and his backers never had a moment`s anxiety, with the colt making virtually all under Basil Marcus to see off High Finale by one and half lengths. Whitbarrow, who was carrying the same colours as the ill-fated high-class chaser The Outback Way, was atoning for a defeat when fancied for his debut at Bath earlier this month. Millman said: 'That makes up for last time. When you come to pull him up he`s a horse who switches right off and I think Basil had just taken a slight pull to help him see out the trip and the horse thought he had done enough. He was swamped. The horse never turned a hair after the race and we were disappointed.' Whitbarrow is likely to step up in class to contest the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom on Derby day and Millman added: 'A lot of good horses you wouldn`t think of risking them round the bend at Epsom, but he is a very well-balanced, correct horse.' Apprentice Chris Catlin, partnering his 25th winner of the year, was seen to good effect on Wolf Venture in the Steve Wood Memorial Handicap, forcing his mount past Parker in the final 50 yards to score by half a length. 'It was a great ride by the kid, and I wouldn`t mind having a few quid on him for the apprentice championship,' said trainer Sean Woods` travelling head lad Andy Shaw. Suggestive, representing the team associated with Derby winner Shaamit of trainer William Haggas and jockey Michael Hills, made a successful racecourse debut in the Weatherbys Insurance Maiden Stakes, beating Independence by two lengths.
