Cheltenham Festival winner Kielan Woods out for 33 days after raft of whip bans

15 June 2023 , 18:23

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Jockey Kielan Woods will be out for 33 days (Image: RACINGFOTOS.COM)

Jump jockey Kielan Woods will be sidelined for 33 days after a BHA disciplinary panel dished out a raft of hefty suspensions.

The Cheltenham Festival-winning rider was one of four jockeys to pick up big bans for multiple breaches of the rules under the totting-up procedure.

Woods collected the heaviest penalty totalling 42 days, of which nine days were suspended, for contravening the whip rules five times in a six-month period.

Jonjo O’Neill Jr was given a 21-day ban, with seven days suspended, for his third offence in six months.

Flat jockey Paula Muir was given 35 days, with nine suspended, for her third contravention of the rules, while Marco Ghiani was banned for 25 days, with eight suspended for the same number of misuse charges.

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New whip rules were introduced in February since when the number of strikes allowed was cut to a maximum of seven over jumps and six on the Flat with the penalty structure toughened up.

The BHA said it continues to monitor the impact of the whip changes and has agreed to review the results with the Professional Jockeys Association after six months.

A BHA spokesperson said: “Jockeys on the whole have shown that they are able to adapt to the new thresholds and deserve great credit for this.

“This is best exemplified by the very small number of offences incurred throughout the sport’s main festival events, when jockeys are riding under the most intense of competition.

“While some riders will inevitably take more time to adapt to the new rules, the penalties for multiple referrals are designed to act as a significant deterrent towards jockeys committing multiple offences. They are also an incentive for riders to change their style.”

Jon Lees