Henry Cecil's decision to appeal against Double Crossed's demotion from first place at Lingfield paid off today when his filly was handed back the race.
He had never previously sought to overturn a stewards' decision in more than 30 years as a trainer but was particularly upset when his three-year-old was placed second after passing the post first in the Arena Racing Oaks Trial.
Double Crossed, ridden by Richard Quinn, was adjudged to have interfered accidentally with the John Dunlop-trained neck runner-up Silver Grey Lady (Pat Eddery) by the Lingfield stewards who reversed the placings on the day.
But after hearing evidence today from Cecil, Dunlop, Quinn and Eddery the Jockey Club disciplinary committee decided to overturn that decision.
Cecil had sympathy for connections of Epsom-bound Silver Grey Lady and said: "I feel very sorry for the owner of the other filly and I hope she runs a good race in the Oaks."
Dunlop declined to make any comment, other than to say: "Were had a very fair hearing." PA