Sick jockey filmed elbowing rival off horse mid-race now facing police ban

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Jockey Christophe Soumillon caused uproar after he was seen elbowing rival Rossa Ryan off a horse mid-race – and he could now face police intervention.

The Belgian rider, who recently won the Coral-Eclipse, was seen elbowing Ryan – forcing him to lose balance and fall off his galloping horse head first.

Soumillom was initially slapped with a two-month ban, but that could now be extended.

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Police said his behaviour was "incompatible with the maintenance of a licence," and he could be prevented from horse racing for a significant period when the Ministry of the Interior makes its final decision.

After the incident, Soumillon said: "It was a terrible thing that happened. I was riding my race as always and two of us wanted the same spot.

"I thought I was just easing Rossa over so I could stay behind Ryan [Moore]. Unfortunately on the very soft ground he became unbalanced and came off. That was the first surprise because I wondered what had happened.

"When I watched back the pictures, I could see clearly what had happened – that I had gone elbow to elbow with him, which unfortunately I should never have done.

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"I made a mistake and I am upset for my owner and trainer as well as for his, because it has resulted in them both losing out. The worst of it is that when a jockey falls like that it could have been a lot worse for him.

"I'm reassured that he's okay and when I saw he was unhurt I went and apologised straight away. That's the best news of the day. It's the kind of thing nobody wants to see in our sport.

"I totally understand the reaction of people who question what happened and feel it was totally unacceptable, so it is for me to suffer the consequences."

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