Middleham trainer Andy Crook was fined £2,200 over the running and riding of Battle Warning, who was beaten just over two lengths into fourth place in the last race at Southwell yesterday.

Apprentice jockey Chris Hadwin was suspended for 15 days (January 10 to 12, 14 to 19 and 21 to 26) while Battle Warning was banned from running for 40 days from January 4 to February 12.

Battle Warning is owned by former trainer Micky Hammond and at the inquiry Hadwin said his instructions had been to lie handy and to keep squeezing the gelding but from the turn into the straight his legs became weak and he was unable to ride the horse out.

Updated: 11:54 Wednesday, January 02, 2002