McCoy hit by two-day ban

Reigning champion jump jockey Tony McCoy got the defence of his crown off to a winning start at Hexham today but fell foul of the stewards and picked up a two-day ban in the process.

McCoy, who rode 257 winners last season, had to be at his strongest to get Wensley Blue to the front close home in the Federation Brewery Novices’ Selling Hurdle to get the better of Happy Days by a neck.

However, the local officials took a dim view of his use of the whip and banned him on May 7 and 9 for using his stick with excessive force.