I am sorry, admits Mitchell after six-month drugs ban

Jack Mitchell will be on the sidelines for six months after testing positive to a metabolite of cocaine at Newmarket in May.

The rider appeared before the disciplinary panel of the British Horseracing Authority for a hearing into the sample, which had been found to contain benzoylecgonine, a diagnostic metabolite of cocaine and a banned substance.

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In a statement issued through his solicitor Christopher Stewart-Moore, Mitchell, 22, said: “I accept the findings of the BHA’s medical committee unreservedly.

“I acknowledge that my actions which led to me testing positive for a metabolite of cocaine were unacceptable as well as foolish.

“I am extremely sorry for letting down those trainers who have supported me in the past and who continue to support me.

“I am also remorseful for the anguish that my actions have caused to my family and I am grateful for their support and understanding throughout this difficult time.

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“I would like to reassure everyone in racing that this was a one-off occurrence and that it will never happen again.

“I have been tested at the racecourse by BHA testers on many occasions before and since the positive reading with negative results in each case.

“I have the support of my family, trainers and friends to go forward to next season with a positive note.”

Mitchell will be suspended from October 7 to April 6 inclusive.

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Connections of Barbican are already contemplating a tilt at next year’s Melbourne Cup and he can continue on an upward curve in today’s Keltbray Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot.

The mile-and-three-quarter affair, which is run for the first time away from Newmarket, carries Listed status and appears the logical next step for Alan Bailey’s stable star, who battled hard to land a valuable handicap at the Berkshire venue earlier in the month.

He faces his toughest test to date this afternoon, though, with St Leger seventh Buthelezi, who beat Barbican at Newmarket back in the spring, among a clutch of hig-class opponents.

“The trip doesn’t worry me, but a couple of the other horses do,” said Bailey.

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“David Elsworth’s (Highland Castle) is a useful horse and you’d have to watch Henry’s (Cecil, Solar Sky), well all of them really, you couldn’t say any of them couldn’t win it.

“The horse is very, very well and I would definitely say he’s improved from Ascot.

“He’s only had one bad run and that was when he pulled a shoe off and came home lame.

“He deserves another a crack at this level, but this will almost certainly be it for the year.

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“As he’s a gelding we are already looking forward to next year with him when I think he’ll be a better horse.”

Ryan Moore makes a welcome return from injury with two rides, the pick of which could be Kinyras in the Bollinger Handicap.

Moore, who has been sidelined since a horrible fall at Goodwood, will get the leg up from boss Sir Michael Stoute on Kinyras, who actually gave Moore his last winner before his mishap at the Glorious meeting.

Fancied then for the Melrose on the Knavesmire, he lost all chance at the start when his blindfold was removed too late, and did well in the end to finish close to mid-division.

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He has relatively few miles on the clock so there should be more to come, and he can defy a 6lb rise for his triumph on the Sussex Downs.

Moore starts off on Stoute’s Tuscania in the PWC Handicap, although she hasn’t fired during her three-year-old campaign so far, and there is no apparent reason why she should reverse Glorious Goodwood form with Dimension.