The four year filly, trained by Cooji Katrak, had lost the last race on the Derby card when racing as a hot favourite. After a near-riot situation that prevailed at the racecourse which forced the English jockey to run for his life fearing mob fury, the RWITC stewards had declared Ice Age a non-starter, refunding all bets on the horse, and later, after a protracted inquiry, had finally handed out a 56-day riding ban to Dwyer, who had appealed to BHA not to reciprocate the ban.

Jamie Stier, Director of Raceday Operations and Regulation for the BHA, yesterday made clear that BHA believes in recognising the principle of reciprocation of penalties; however, it expects the individual charged with violation is allowed natural justice. “In this particular case it was our view that these basic principles were not upheld by the RWITC, “ he said.