Cocky jockey Pat Cosgrave BANNED for 28 days after throwing away victory with ‘worst ride ever’ as punters rage in anger

1-6 favourite Concorde is beaten in dramatic circumstances at Chelmsford…
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Cosgrave looked shaken as he publicly apologised for his unbelievable blunder

The jockey, who looks to be taking a tight hold on his 1-6 fav, lost by a nose – meaning punters lost £12,000 backing the horse in-running

Cosgrave, who has more than £1.7million in earnings, was cruising on giant favourite Concorde in the 8pm race at Chelmsford last night.

Victory looked assured approaching the post but Cosgrave failed to spot Ben Robinson motoring home on 8-1 My Roxanne on his inside.

Cocky Cosgrave thought he had the race in the bag and never asked his George Boughey-trained three-year-old colt for any effort in the mile race.

Close-up video appeared to show him easing the horse up just yards from the line.

Favourite backers watched in horror as My Roxanne squeezed up the rail to win by a nose in the most dramatic of circumstances.

Footage of Cosgrave’s unforgivable blunder rapidly spread online and the jockey felt he had no choice but to apologise soon afterwards.

Looking shaken, he said: “I sat last in the race, I passed all the other hroses and I have just made a judgement of error.

“The winner has got up my inside and he caught me unaware.

“I want to apologise to the owner Susan Roy and the trainer – it’s a bit embarrassing really. I have to take it on the chin.

“I’m really embarrassed and really sorry for connections. The horse should have won.

“I have to accept it was completely my fault. I’m very very sorry for what happened.”

Punters were in no mood to forgive Cosgrave though, with some saying a lifetime ban should have been doled out.

One said the ‘disgraceful’ ride was ‘utterly inexcusable’ and that 28 days was ‘nowhere near enough’.

Another said it was ‘one of the worst rides of all time’ while another branded the debacle ‘disgusting’.

Cosgrave’s decision to ease up thinking he had won was massively costly to punters.

A total of £12,000 was matched on the horse at the minimum price of 1.01 in-running on the Betfair Exchange.

While the horse’s owners missed out on more than £2,000 with second worth just £1,878 compared to the £4,000 for victory.

Paddy Power said there were ‘no words to describe’ what happened in the final strides.

But they paid out on the horse winning regardless and added: “Don’t do it again, Pat.”