Gold Cup sinner: Sam Thomas banned for finishing a lap early

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Sam Thomas, the rider who enjoyed Gold Cup glory at Cheltenham in March, suffered embarrassment at Fakenham after finishing a lap too early and picking up a 17-day ban.

Thomas, riding 2-5 favourite Oumeyade in the Light Dragoons Handicap Chase, was in the lead approaching the stands when he steered his mount on to the adjacent hurdles track, thinking he had won the race.

However, as the remaining runners continued on another circuit of the chase course, Thomas realised his error and looked to the heavens as he pulled his mount up before putting his hand to his face in shame.

The race was eventually won by 11-1 shot Tipp Top.

It was an uncharacteristic blunder by the 23-year-old rider, who had a season to remember for Oumeyade's trainer Paul Nicholls last term, culminating in Denman's spectacular Gold Cup triumph two months ago.

But yesterday he was just another victim of the Fakenham lay-out that has fooled more experienced riders.

Only four months ago, Irishman Denis O'Regan received a 14-day ban for riding a finish too soon.

This time the stewards handed a further three days to Thomas for interference caused by careless riding as he moved inside to the hurdles track to pull up.

Speaking from his Ditcheat base, Nicholls said: 'I didn't go to Fakenham, but I saw what happened.

We all make mistakes so we've just got to take it on the chin and live with it. It's just one of those things.'

A success on the Nicholls-trained Roby de Cimbre in a later chase was scant consolation for Thomas.

• Stubbs Art, who was third in the 2,000 Guineas when a 100-1 shot, is to be supplemented for Saturday's Irish version. River Proud, third in the French 2,000, will be added to next month's St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.