The BHA upheld the initial decision of the Whip Review Committee (WRC) to disqualify Alphonse Le Grande from last month’s Cesarewitchthe sport’s governing body saying it was “disappointed” by the decision to overturn the finding on appeal last week.

Alphonse Le Grande passed the first post at Newmarket, but jockey Jamie Powell was sent to the WRC. The horse was disqualified three days later after the WRC deemed Powell to have used his whip ten times, four over the permitted level.

Connections appealed the WRC’s finding and the disciplinary panel overturned the decision following a three-hour hearing last week. The company determined that while Powell’s whip connected with Alphonse Le Grande ten times, the final connection was not intended as it came when the whip was pulled back over the horse’s hindquarters and therefore did not constituted a “use” of the whip.

The decision to reintroduce Alphonse Le Grande as the winner over the Manxman drew criticism from the beaten horse’s joint trainer Simon Crisford, who said: “People need clarity. They need to know what the rules are.”

After publishing the disciplinary committee’s written reasons on Wednesday, the BHA expressed its full support behind the WRC but said it would consider whether the verdict would have any implications for the whip rules.

In a statement, a BHA spokesman said: “Having received the panel’s written reasons following last week’s appeal hearing, the BHA remains disappointed by this outcome and strongly believes that the original decision of the Review Committee Whip was correct.

“In reviewing more than 1,200 recommendations since the introduction of the rules and more than 1,500 including the bedding period, the highly qualified and experienced individuals who sit on the Whip Review Committee have demonstrated extraordinary consistency in their decisions.

“This has provided clarity for jockeys which has helped reduce the rate of offenses since the rules were implemented. The BHA will now consider what implications, if any, there are for the rules as established as a result of this decision.”

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