Harry Cobden one of just six jockeys banned under new whip rules at Cheltenham Festival as disaster avoided

JUST six jockeys broke harsh new whip rules at the Cheltenham Festival as fears of widespread bans weren’t realised.

Harry Cobden was one of the half-dozen who found themselves in hot water, picking up a four-day ban for using the whip above shoulder height on Albert Bartlett winner Stay Away Fay.

PA

Harry Cobden picked up a four-day ban for his ride on Stay Away Fay[/caption]

His whip use from the back of the last in Friday’s Grade 1 was one of six referred to the review committee from a total of 444 during jump racing’s most high-profile meeting.

Suspensions were also dished out to Jonathan Burke, Sean Bowen, JJ Slevin, Freddie Gordon and Lorcan Murtagh.

The last three named were all banned for eight days after going one stroke over the limit of seven, doubled from the usual suspension of four days because their breach came in Class 1 and 2 races.

However, all six jocks will still be free to ride at next month’s Grand National meeting, which kicks off at Aintree on April 13.

It is a relief to everyone in the sport that the jockeys adapted so well to the new rules on racing’s biggest stage.

Some pundits had predicted a disaster on the whip front – but thankfully that didn’t come to pass.

The BHA’s Brant Dunshea said: “Our thanks go to the jockeys who competed at Cheltenham who have worked hard to adapt their styles to ensure no horses were referred to the whip review committee as a potential disqualification, and to result in so few referrals in general.

“No jockeys used the whip above the permitted level on any winning ride over all four days.

“What we saw was racing of the highest quality, with a number of competitive finishes and the best horses on the day coming out on top, and it is wonderful the stories were all about the action on the track.

“We will continue to speak to the PJA and jockeys across both codes, jump and Flat, as we progress the roll-out of the new rules.”

The new guidelines were first implemented over jumps on February 13 and will come into force for Flat jockeys from March 27 following a bedding-in period.

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