Evita appeal on Friday

An appeal by the connections of Dispol Evita against the decision by the Lingfield stewards to demote the filly after she had won the seller there on Tuesday will be heard at the Jockey Club on Friday morning, it was announced today.

The 4-5 favourite, trained by Andrew Reid, appeared to run out a comfortable half-a-length winner of the one-mile contest in the hands of Martin Dwyer from Jimmy Fortune`s mount Battle Line despite interfering with the second past the post inside the final furlong.

Although the stewards found that the interference was accidental, they deemed that it had improved Dispol Evita`s placing and reversed the first two positions.

Reid said: 'There is no way that horse would not have won.'

The London-based trainer went on: 'Also what has to be taken into account is the second horse was wearing blinkers.

'It may have jinked of its own accord. A horse with blinkers would see less and overreact. I think that horse overreacted because of the blinkers.'

The amended result also had an affect on the Tote Jackpot, especially as the race was the sixth and final leg of the bet.

All the 80p that was left in the pool went on Dispol Evita. That horse`s demotion meant that Stg£77,235.46 was carried over to Newbury today.

'I feel sorry for the Jackpot man,' Reid added.

'I think that there`s no sign of any consistency.'

Reid was referring to the recent decision by the Exeter stewards, backed up later by the Jockey Club, not to disqualify Boring Goring after Mattie Batchelor`s mount barged into Keltic Heritage on the run-in.