Sky Sports Racing pundit Seb Sanders has called for stronger action from stewards after champion jockey Billy Loughnane received a two-day careless riding ban

A racing commentator has demanded tougher penalties from stewards while analysing a winning performance by racing's newly crowned champion jockey, Billy Loughnane. Seb Sanders, who jointly held the Flat title with Jamie Spencer in 2007, spoke out following Yehudi's victory in the opening division of a 1m1⁄2f Class Six handicap at Wolverhampton on Friday.

The 12-1 outsider, trained by Loughnane's father Mark, made contact with nearest challenger Palliser during the final stages before edging ahead at the finish. A stewards' enquiry was launched and the result stood, with Loughnane receiving a two-day careless riding suspension.

As replays of the incident aired on Sky Sports Racing, Sanders argued that racing officials must take firmer action on such incidents. "The stewards have got to get a grip of this," he said.

"It is happening day, in day out. They either chuck the horse out or give the jockey a proper suspension.. Make sure you don't miss sport's biggest stories and breaking news by making the Daily Mirror one of your Google preferred sources.. "I've banged on about this before and I'll bang on about it again. Billy is our champion jockey who has done extremely well but that is not good riding.

This is not bumper cars, this is meant to be Flat racing at the highest level. ". Loughnane, who rode a treble on the card, is chasing the yearly Flat record of 269 winners set by Sir Gordon Richards in 1947. Days after picking up his first jockeys' championship trophy at Ascot, the 20-year-old said he felt the best horse won at the West Midlands circuit, which he previously named as one of his favourite places to compete, reports the Mirror.

"My horse is very ungenuine," he told the presenter regarding Yehudi. "I think as you can see, I was going way better than Luke's horse and I drafted into it lovely. He's a horse that when he hits the front doesn't do much at all. I should have been quicker to pull my stick through and I have been suspended for two days because of that and rightfully so."

Sanders then suggested: "The idea of what hand a stick is in is irrelevant. It's all about keeping straight and keeping horses balanced. I see far too many jockeys riding on their knee and not in control, flapping their legs around.

"On that Flat you have to have a tight, strong core to steer your horse. The whip is not a steering wheel, it is used to keep the horse motivated."

The stewards report said: "An enquiry was held to consider the placings in this race after interference approximately half a furlong out involving the winner, Yehudi, ridden by Billy Loughnane and Palliser, placed second, ridden by Luke Morris.

"The stewards considered that the interference had not improved Yehudi's placing as although the gelding had shifted left-handed and bumped Palliser, briefly unbalancing that runner, they could not be comfortably satisfied that had this interference not occurred, Palliser would have finished in front of Yehudi.

"Loughnane was suspended for two days for careless riding as he allowed his mount to drift left-handed without timely correction, thereby causing interference to Palliser."

Currently, the British Horseracing Authority is engaging with members of the racing industry on a review of the penalty structure, which is partly considering the sanctions available to stewards.