Paddy Bradley apologises for 'overconfident' ride as hot favourite clings on for the win

Paddy Bradley has apologised for an 'overconfident' ride after his horse was nearly caught in a tense finish. The jockey was booked by trainer Charlie Fellowes to partner Deluded in division two of the maiden stakes at Wolverhampton.

Sent off the 4-7 favourite, all was going well for the form choice as he eased into the lead with one furlong left of the seven. But Bradley barely moved in the saddle and tried to cruise to victory over the 11 other horses and jockeys.

He then looked over the wrong shoulder as 28-1 outsider Stepinmydirection kept on up the inside for Laura Pearson. Luckily two-year-old colt Deluded held on for a head verdict - but Bradley was quick to apologise to Sky Sports Racing presenter Matt Chapman in the post-race debrief.

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The rider said: "It was a misjudgement. I was overconfident. He idled there at the end and I was nearly made to look very, very stupid.

"I apologise to Mr (Laurence) Bellman (owner) and Mr Fellowes. That won't happen again.

"It got very close because I was sat still. He was miles the best, (it was) just slightly unprofessional from me. That's not good enough, Charlie has been very good to me and we have got a very good strike rate. I don't usually do things like that, I thought I was winning easier."

Deluded had finished second on his debut and came home in midfield when set a stiff task in the highly valuable Harry's Half Million By Goffs event at York's Ebor Meeting.

Bradley, who has a 44 per cent strike rate for Fellowes, added: "It was a mistake, fortunately it didn't cost me and I can learn from it. I have higher standards than that.

"It was good fortune as I didn't see the horse coming on my inside, if it was coming a bit quicker it would have beaten me. To get away with it was lucky, the horse hasn't had a hard race but I'm a better rider than that."