Christophe Soumillon appeal against Royal Ascot ban adjourned until Thursday

Belgian jockey Christophe Soumillon is appealing an eight-day suspension handed down at Royal Ascot after stewards found him guilty of riding Puerto Rico in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes in a manner intended to benefit stablemate Gstaad. An independent disciplinary panel chaired by Clement Goldstone KC sat on Friday, June 26, 2026, but adjourned proceedings until Thursday morning for final submissions and deliberations. Soumillon denied the allegations, calling suggestions he moved off the inside rail to aid Gstaad 'absolutely nonsense.'