Grand National winner ruled out of £1million Aintree prize by 14-day whip ban

19 March 2024 , 17:57

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Grand National winning Jockey Ryan Mania: picked up 14 day whip ban (Image: PA)

Grand National-winning jockey Ryan Mania has been ruled out of this year’s big race after being hit with a 14-day whip ban.

Mania, who won the race on 66-1 chance Auroras Encore in 2013, would have been in line to partner another big outsider, the Sandy Thomson-trained Empire Steel at Aintree.

Empire Steel, winner of a Kelso handicap chase under Mania in February, holds engagements in both the £1 million Grand National on April 13 and the day earlier Topham Chase, which is also over National fences at Aintree.

But the jockey was suspended from April 2 to 15 by the BHA’s Whip Review Committee who found he had breached the whip rules while finishing fifth in a handicap hurdle at Newcastle.

The committee found only three jockeys breached the whip rules while riding at the Cheltenham Festival.

Mark Johnston claims BHA most to blame for public perception of whip use

Amateur jockey John Dawson also received a 14 day ban following his winning ride on Sine Nomine in the Cheltenham Foxhunters.

Dawson was found to have used his whip twice above the seven stroke limit after the second last fence. He was also fined £275 due to the value of the race.

Mark Walsh, J P McManus’s retained rider in Ireland, received a seven day suspension (April 3 to 9) for using his whip in the incorrect place on Triumph Hurdle winner Marjborough.

The sentence runs on from the four days Walsh picked up last week for committing the same offence on Fact To File, the Brown Advisory Chase winner.

The other whip suspension from the fixture was issued to Patrick Mullins who picked up an eight day ban for his ride on Embassy Gardens in the National Hunt Chase.

Jon Lees