Simple Verse St Leger put back another week

Connections of Simple Verse will have to wait until next week to find out their fate in an appeal against the decision to demote the filly from first place in the Ladbrokes St Leger after the British Horseracing Authority put back a hearing scheduled for Thursday.

Trained by Ralph Beckett for Qatar Racing, the Andrea Atzeni-ridden filly passed the post a head in front of Bondi Beach, but a stewards' inquiry was immediately called into interference as the pair appeared to bump twice in the closing stages.

Following a tense wait, during which Atzeni and Bondi Beach's rider Colm O'Donoghue argued their respective cases in front of the stewards live on Channel 4, the announcement was made that Simple Verse had been placed second.

Having initially announced the matter would be dealt with this week, the BHA later tweeted: "Due to issues with availability of participants' counsel, the St Leger appeal will now not be held this Thursday.

"The hearing will now be held on either Tues 22, Weds 23 or Fri 25 September, TBC based on counsel's availability.

"Further updates to be provided this week once availability has been finalised."

Sky Bet have opened a market on the outcome of Thursday's appeal hearing making it an 8/15 chance that Bondi Beach keeps the race and 11/8 that Simple Verse is reinstated as the winner.