Nine-day ban for McGrath

JEREMIAH McGrath was given a nine-day suspension at Cheltenham yesterday - despite Thursday’s amendments to the British Horseracing Authority’s stringent whip rules.

McGrath, attached to Nicky Henderson’s yard, was given the hefty ban after just failing to win on Semi Colon in the cheltenhamcollection.co.uk Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

He will be sidelined between November 25-30 and December 1-3. Because McGrath’s offence was at the upper level he will lose his percentage of the prize-money.