McCoy picks up four-day ban
February 17, 2012 09:55:38 UK
AP McCoy picked up a ban on Thursday after transgressing the new whip rules and many watching the 4.35 from Leicester will have some sympathy for him.
For McCoy - aboard 9/4 favourite Prince of Pirates - earned a dead heat with Brackloon High when defeat looked the only possible outcome as the pair landed over the last.
AP, however, came from over two lengths back to drive his horse past the post in the most desperate of finishes against Richard Johnson with both riders at full power.
McCoy, in gaining a share of the spoils, tapped the horse nine times - one over the limit - to get a four-day ban.
Racegoers who were supporting Prince of Pirates will have been delighted the jockey had given them everything he had.
However, the outcome showed the delicate restraints that the jockeys are now riding to and McCoy refused to comment beyond tweeting: "Hopefully something will be sorted."
That was presumably a reference to on-going talks between the Professional Jockeys Association and the British Horseracing Authority over the whip rules as a solution is sought before the Cheltenham Festival.
McCoy is 34.00 to be Cheltenham's top jockey while Johnson is 17.00 and Ruby Walsh can be backed at 6.00.
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