Charlie Deutsch rode Martator, trained by Venetia Williams and owned by Camilla Norton, to win the Grand Annual Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, according to multiple reports. However, a post-race investigation found Deutsch used his whip nine times from the final fence to the finish line, two more than allowed under British Horseracing Authority regulations. The BHA imposed a seven-day ban that was doubled to 14 days because of the race's class, and Deutsch was fined £1,550, multiple reports indicate.
The British Horseracing Authority introduced new whip limit regulations in 2022, restricting Flat jockeys to a maximum of six strokes and jump jockeys to seven, according to multiple reports. Under BHA rules, horses are disqualified when the whip is used four times or more above the permitted level, multiple reports indicate. Other whip offences occurred at Cheltenham, with Conor Stone-Walsh suspended for eight days for using his whip once above the permitted level in the Grand Annual Chase on Break My Soul, according to multiple reports.
Caoilin Quinn was banned for a whip offence in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, reduced from eight to four days due to over 150 rides since his last breach, multiple reports indicate. Careless riding also led to bans at the festival, with Harry Skelton receiving a three-day ban and Patrick Mullins a two-day suspension. Billy Loughnane has appealed against a 21-day ban for improper riding after riding a horse back to the unsaddling enclosure when it was scratched on vets’ orders, according to multiple reports.
He switched off well, which he hasn’t done so well previously, and I was able to be a lot more handy on him than usual. I ended up challenging for the lead too soon but once I got by I thought I was always going to stay there.
If upheld, the ban will run from 9 April to 30 April, ruling him out of the Craven meeting and Greenham Stakes, multiple reports indicate. Sam Burton received a 20-day suspension and his horse Dadavic was disqualified for using the whip five times above the permitted level of seven, according to the BHA's Whip Review Committee. Burton was also cautioned for careless riding for allowing his mount to drift right-handed, forcing another rider to switch, stewards said.
Toby McCain-Mitchell was banned for 10 days for failing to pull up his tired horse Top Of The Bill before it fell at the final fence in the Grand National, according to stewards. Top Of The Bill fell at the final fence and underwent veterinary assessment but was expected to travel home, according to an update from Aintree. Callum Pritchard was banned for 12 days for misjudging the winning post and easing up his horse with a circuit left to run at Plumpton, according to British Horseracing Authority stewards.
Kiaan Watts was handed a 25-day ban by the UCI for punching a fellow competitor during a race in the Netherlands, according to the UCI. Jockey Jack Andrews has been suspended for 12 days for taking the wrong course at Stratford-on-Avon, according to a stewards' inquiry. Andrews was riding Xcitations in a 2m1f handicap chase and was in the lead before making an error, multiple reports indicate.
I don't know of anyone riding under rules who is taller than me. But I'm very self-critical and constantly trying to make myself better, especially with my riding. The biggest compliment anyone can give me is that I don't look big on a horse. But for my diet, I have to have a daily routine to keep my weight down. Gaining weight is an issue but I keep it under control. I'll have a coffee on my way to work then a yogurt, fruit and some granola for breakfast. Lunch is a yogurt bar and a banana, while dinner is some protein like chicken and another yogurt – I eat every meal, just not a lot. That being said, when I have a cheat day and go out I eat properly! I don't pick salads, that's for sure. I go all out.
He mistakenly bypassed the water jump at the fifth fence, and it had been agreed beforehand that fence six would be omitted for chase races, multiple reports indicate. Andrews pulled up his mount soon after realising his mistake, multiple reports indicate. Harel Du Marais, ridden by James Bowen, was the eventual winner by three and a quarter lengths, according to multiple reports.
Jack Andrews is known as the tallest jockey in the world at six feet and four inches, and he follows a strict diet to maintain his weight, multiple reports indicate. Danny Gilligan has been handed a one-day suspension for misconduct at the Start at the Cheltenham Festival, according to a stewards' inquiry. Gilligan caused a pair of false starts at the National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Handicap Chase on Tuesday evening, multiple reports indicate.
He rode Koktail Brut and Dee Capo earlier in the day at the Cheltenham Festival, and prepared for his final meet of Tuesday on Gordon Elliott's Will Do, multiple reports indicate. Gilligan and Will Do finished 11th in the race, and Nicky Henderson's Holloway Queen, ridden by James Bowen, won the race, multiple reports indicate. Conor Stone-Walsh was handed a two-day suspension for careless riding at the Cheltenham Festival, according to a stewards' inquiry.
He allowed his mount Iceberg Theory to drift left-handed towards the rail when insufficiently clear of Donagh Meyler and Backersackme, multiple reports indicate. Stone-Walsh finished fifth with Iceberg Theory, and Donagh Meyler had to take a check, with Sam Twiston-Davies also taking a slight check against the rail due to the interference, multiple reports indicate. Charlie Deutsch will miss the first two days of the Grand National Festival due to his ban, according to multiple reports.