Jockey Smith bemoans visa issues

American jockey Mike Smith has been forced to give up his rides at Lingfield on Tuesday due to the conditions of his visa.

Smith, a Hall of Fame jockey best known for his association with incredible race mare Zenyatta, is the UK to partner Wesley Ward's Royal Ascot hope Gentlemans Code, who is pencilled in for a maiden at Folkestone on Thursday.

After learning of his arrival on British soil, several trainers were keen to snap up his services and he had five booked rides on the all-weather.

But International Racing Bureau director of racecourse services Adrian Beaumont has revealed Smith will be unable to ride.

"Unfortunately he won't be going to Lingfield. We had a call from the UK Border Agency this morning and they told us riding at Lingfield would break the terms of his visa," said Beaumont.

"They have basically said Lingfield was not part of the same event as Folkestone.

"He has really come over to ride the American horse at Folkestone, so he is not allowed to go to Lingfield.

"He doesn't want to jeopardise any future visits to the UK.

"He'll ride at Folkestone on Thursday and goes back to America on Friday.

"He'll then hopefully be back for Royal Ascot."