There was drama at Newton Abbot when Gaspara passed the post first in the Mint Casino, Torquay Handicap Hurdle but lost the race in the stewards' room to Tabaran.
Future Vision was a faller on the first circuit and screens were erected after the second-last flight, but off towards the left of the hurdles track.
Danny Cook, riding Gaspara for David Pipe, spotted an official with a chequered flag and unfortunately went to the left of the hurdle, before joining back in and crossing the line in front of Tabaran.
As Tabaran jumped all the hurdles under Oliver Dayman, he was declared the winner.
Dayman told At The Races: "You could see the flag was up and that there had been an incident, but there were no markers on the hurdle and as far as I'm concerned I'm supposed to jump it.
"There was some shouting, but it happened so quick and I had a decision to make so I jumped it, as there were no markers there. To be honest I thought they were shouting about the last, so it didn't even cross my mind to miss the second-last."
Cook received a 28-day ban for taking the wrong course on Our Vic in the Boylesports Gold Cup, and as the latest incident was his second offence in the past 12 months, the matter was automatically referred to the British Horseracing Authority.
To slightly soften the blow Cook won the Nigel Lee Selling Hurdle on Pipe's Brandy Butter an hour later, and said: "We got our wires crossed. Someone was waving me by and you have to do what the officials say.
"The fence steward was shouting at me to 'go by, go by'. It would have been easier for me to jump the hurdle than go round. I should have just jumped the hurdle.
"There was a similar incident at Chepstow with Jimmy Derham when he was told to go round and then he joined back in and won the race. There is one rule one day and one rule another. There needs to be more consistency."
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