An amateur jockey has received a 12-day ban after forcing his horse to leap the final fence when it seemed to have ‘no more to give’. Stunned punters struggled to make sense of what unfolded in the Pointing Pointers’ Queen’s Cup Hunter Chase, the concluding race at Fakenham on Friday.

Only four runners participated in the 3m race, but after the second favourite, Bowtogreatness, was pulled up and Coolagh Park had fallen, just two remained. At the penultimate fence, 5-4 favourite Janika was nudged and unseated by rider Charlotte Butler, leaving Go On Chez alone under Charlie Marshall.

Marshall spurred his mount on, but as Go On Chez neared the final fence, he slowed dramatically, almost to a walk, and seemed to be attempting to pull up. Nonetheless, Marshall persisted and urged his horse to clear the obstacle. Go On Chez landed in the fence but managed to scramble to the other side, from where he was ridden to the finish line at a slow canter to secure victory.

Describing the closing stages, race commentator Tim Peters said: “Go On Chez is looking pretty tired. He is almost stopping to a walk here. Going round the final turn, he is pretty much going down to a walk.

“Can Charlie Marshall keep him going? Go On Chez has pulled himself up virtually. Charlie Marshall’s got to try and get him over this final fence, Go On Chez, can he get over it?”

“Goodness me, he’s over, somehow! And he might as well walk him over the line now. What a dramatic finish here! He somehow clambered over the final fence, and Go On Chez will go on and win in an extraordinary finish.”

The stewards took a dim view of the ride, and following an inquiry, the amateur received a 12-day suspension. Their inquiry concluded that Marshall “had continued in the race when the horse appeared to have no more to give after barely being able to negotiate the final fence”.

Nick Lightfoot, the RacingTV reporter at Fakenham, commented on the outcome. He said: “The stewards on site here deemed that on the absolute maximum side of what that offence was.

“I can only echo that. It was an extremely unpleasant look, and when you’ve got a fairly strong crowd, it is the kind of sight we do not want to see in racing, and I am glad the BHA are taking as strong a stance on it.”