Leicester became the latest scene for a 'wrong way' racecourse drama when conditional jockey Richard Gordon was banned for ten days for failing to take the correct course.

It was a tale of three claimers as rising star Liam Heard guided Rojaaba to an easy-looking victory in the ladbrokes.com Novices' Claiming Hurdle.

But the result might have been different had Heard's colleagues Gordon and Tony Coyle, aboard It's My Party and Tinian, not failed to take the correct course when disputing the advantage around the home turn.

The stewards held an inquiry into the incident but were satisfied the result had not been affected, allowing 6-1 chance Rojaaba's five-length success over Blackthorn to remain unaltered.

However, the unfortunate Gordon was hit with a total of 12 days worth of suspension for the incident - ten days for taking the wrong course and a further two for careless riding, having interfered with the fourth-placed Barella when going out.

Coyle was cleared of breaching the rules, his mount having been found to have been carried out on to the chase course at the intersection by the other horse.

''Mr Coyle was probably leaving it a bit late but he could have come back on to the correct track in time, had the other horse not have taken him out,'' said steward Ashley Bealby.

''Mr Gordon said his horse had cocked his jaw and taken him out.'' However, the stewards evidently rejected this explanation.

The unfortunate young rider has now failed to complete the course in his seven most recent starts, including when the same horse, It's My Party, ran out through the wings of a hurdle on its previous appearance.

There was further unsavoury drama in the following race when Woodford Consult ran out through the wings of the third-last flight when about to make his challenge in the Helen of Troy Lady Riders' Handicap Hurdle.

The errant horse also took out Needwood Spirit with him, leaving Imperial Royale (11-1) to run out an easy scorer under Sue Sharratt.

''I'm absolutely thrilled for the horse, who has been with me since we bought him as a two-year-old from Mick Channon,'' said winning trainer Pat Clinton.

''The owners have supported me since I started training and even though I have only got two or three horses now they have been brilliant.

''I've got a better strike-rate of runners to winners than the likes of Mr Pipe and Mr Nicholls but the phone isn't exactly ringing off the hook.

''Not that I am complaining for one minute - to be able to come racing and stand in the parade ring, let alone the winners' enclosure, is a real pleasure.''