Spencer to miss 1000 Guineas

Jamie Spencer looks set to miss the 1000 Guineas after being given a one-day ban at Leopardstown on Sunday.

The new number one jockey at Ballydoyle was due to ride Necklace for Aidan O’Brien in the UltimateBet.com-sponsored fillies’ Classic at Newmarket on Sunday week.

But he is now likely to sit out the one-mile feature after being handed the suspension for excessive and improper use of the whip when winning the Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial on Royal Tigress for the Ballydoyle trainer.

The only chance he has of taking the ride would be if he put in an appeal, but that appears to be unlikely.

“At the moment he is not going to appeal. He gave me the indication yesterday that he wasn’t. I’ve heard nothing since that he is going to change his mind,” said his agent Eddie Byrne.

“I think he would have to make his mind up by tomorrow if he was going to appeal.”

Had Spencer committed the offence in Britain the punishment would not have taken effect on 1000 Guineas day, as Group One race-days are excluded.

A UK Jockey Club spokesman said: “He was riding in Ireland and the Irish don’t have it in their rules that there is a deferral on a Group One day.”