Jockey on Grand National favourite could be BANNED from race if guilty of rules breach in ‘ride of the season’

THE jockey on the Grand National favourite could be banned from the race if found guilty of breaking whip rules on his ‘ride of the season’.

Derek Fox, who won last year’s £1million Aintree race on Corach Rambler, was hailed for his last-to-first win on Clovis Boy at Newcastle on Tuesday.

AP

Fox, left, with trainer Lucinda Russell, celebrate after winning last year’s Grand National[/caption]

But he looked to strike the horse eight times after the last – one above the permitted level of seven.

According to the Daily Mail, the BHA whip review committee are due to meet today to dish out any punishment.

Fox is already banned on April 9 and 10 for breaking whip rules on Camp Belan at Hexham last Friday.

Bosses cut his suspension from four days to two on the grounds he had gone 150 rides since a previous whip breach.

However, if found guilty on Clovis Boy then he could be hit with a full four-day suspension.

If this kicks in on the usual date of two weeks after the review of the whip committee then it means Fox will be banned for the entire Aintree Festival.

Corach Rambler is the 4-1 favourite for this year’s race, being run at the new time of 4pm on Saturday, April 13.

The three-day Aintree Festival kicks off on Thursday, April 11.

More to follow.

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