MISTAKING a rail at the start of the opening race at Huntingdon had dire consequences for eight riders as they picked up suspensions of around a fortnight each.

Most of the field headed on an incorrect path to the right of a short strip of fencing in the very early stages of the Cromwell Stand Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle and nearly all the offenders continued to the finish.

Star youngster Sam Twiston-Davies was one of those involved, along with Peterjon Carberry, Harry Challoner, Henry Brooke, Gemma Gracey-Davison, Matt Crawley, Matt O’Connor and Nathan Sweeney. They were all banned for 12 days (January 28 - February 8).

All except Sweeney were handed a further three days (February 9-11) for failing to pull up, having knowingly taken the wrong course.

Rawaaj passed the post first but the race was awarded to the 5-2 favourite Dancing Daffodil and jockey Chris Ward, who would have been placed fifth otherwise.

Winning trainer Robin Dickin said: ‘‘You are supposed to keep left, but most of them have gone right down the chase course. Luckily my jockey walked the course with me last week and went again on his own today.’’ Tom Molloy also took the correct route to claim second on Giollacca.

Sovereign Spirit carried Richard Killoran the wrong way, despite the jockey’s better intentions, but they retraced their steps to be third.

Such incidents do occur in jump racing but Molloy was unsympathetic to his colleagues, adding: ‘‘Only a couple of us went the right way and the rest didn’t. They didn’t walk the course.’’ Ward and Dickin later managed another winner in the more conventional fashion through Roxane Bruere (7-1), who led home a one-two for the Stratford stable in the Racing UK Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

Nicky Henderson returned to the Cambridgeshire track to saddle another batch of potential stars and he was particularly effusive about the performance of Mr Gardner (1-2 favourite).

Last seen in action when winning easily over hurdles at Newbury in March 2009, he subjugated his opponents in the Huntingdon Audi A1 Novices Chase with an array of impressive leaps as he crushed them by 32 lengths.

‘‘We’ve said pretty much since day one that when this horse starts jumping fences, it will be exciting,’’ said Henderson.

‘‘The last time he ran Tony McCoy said he just liked being in front, but unfortunately he did a leg after that.

‘‘He doesn’t do things by halves, he just gallops and jumps.