A JOCKEY who was spotted slipping a lead weight down his trouser leg to make weight after saddling a winner at Chepstow Racecourse has been suspended from racing.

The extraordinary case was revealed at a British Horseracing Authority disciplinary hearing, which heard that 2015 Scottish Grand National winner Robbie Dunne had weighed in correctly in April 2017 before racing on 7-4 favourite Rocknrollrambo, but had “inadvertently” mounted the horse on a lighter saddle.

The jockey was alerted to the mix up by the trainer’s assistant before coming under starter’s orders, but raced and claimed victory without alerting officials.

Having won the novice handicap chase, Dunne was then spotted by a racegoer being handed a half pound lead weight by Barry Pearson, which he slipped down his left trouser leg as he made his way to the winner’s enclosure.

The jockey was quizzed by officials later that day and denied involvement, but Stewards who reviewed camera footage spotted the handover of the lead, the Racing Post revealed.

Dunne and Pearson admitted their roles in conspiring to hide the fact that the jockey had inadvertently weighed out light by concealing a lead weight down his breeches after a race.

Dunne’s solicitor, Rory MacNeice, said: “Mr Dunne offers an unreserved and sincere apology and this should have been avoided.

“He admits he didn’t do what he should’ve done and he should have said to the starter he needed to reweigh.

“Afterwards he should have told the clerk of the scales, but he didn’t.”

Pearson, who obtained the lead from a stable valet, said: “I really apologise for what happened.

“I should not have panicked. I was under pressure that day, but I should’ve used my commonsense and reported it.”

Dunne, 34, was banned from racing for 15 days and Pearson was banned from racecourses for a month. Two valets were given written warnings over their involvement.

The panel accepted there was no premeditation, and allowed the race result to stand owing to the weight not affecting the outcome.