Danny Gilligan has been handed a one-day suspension after causing multiple false starts at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday evening
Danny Gilligan has received a one-day ban following two false starts at the National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices ́ Handicap Chase on Tuesday evening.
Having already ridden Koktail Brut and Dee Capo earlier during the Cheltenham Festival, Gilligan was preparing for his final ride of Tuesday aboard Gordon Elliott’s Will Do. Yet, after failing to walk or trot properly at the second attempt to get the race underway, Gilligan triggered another false start.
Following interviews with both him and the Starter, plus a review of footage from the incident, the Englishman was given a one-day ban for misconduct at the start.
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In the actual race, Gilligan and Will Do could only achieve an 11th-place finish, whilst Nicky Henderson’s Holloway Queen, partnered by James Bowen, claimed victory.
Following the same contest, Conor Stone-Walsh also received a two-day suspension for careless riding. The jockey secured fifth place with Iceberg Theory, but during the race, permitted his horse to drift left-handed towards the rail whilst not sufficiently clear of Donagh Meyler and Backersackme.
A statement from the enquiry read: “An enquiry was held to consider interference entering the bend after the first fence, involving ICEBERG THEORY (IRE), placed fifth, ridden by Conor Stone-Walsh, BACKMERSACKME (IRE), which was pulled up, ridden by Donagh Meyler, and GUARD THE MOON, which was pulled up, ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies.
“Stone-Walsh was suspended for 2 days for careless riding as he allowed his mount to drift left-handed towards the rail when insufficiently clear of Meyler, who had to take a check, which resulted in Twiston-Davies also having to take a slight check against the rail.
This follows Jack Andrews receiving a 12-day ban after taking the incorrect route and bypassing a fence at Stratford-upon-Avon on Monday. Andrews was leading the field aboard Xcitations in a 2m1f handicap chase when he mistakenly avoided a water jump at the fifth obstacle.
It had been previously arranged that the sixth fence would be omitted from chase contests, with Andrews apparently getting mixed up by the arrangement. He swiftly pulled up his horse upon recognising the mistake but was unable to escape punishment.
The stewards’ report stated: “An inquiry was held to consider whether Xcitations, ridden by Jack Andrews, had appeared to take the incorrect course after jumping the first fence in the home straight on the first circuit,” reports the Express.
“The rider was interviewed and shown recordings of the incident. Andrews was suspended for 12 days for taking the wrong course, as he had failed to jump the water jump and subsequently pulled the gelding up.”