Banned Jason Maguire set to miss Cheltenham Festival

A review of Wednesday's action at Ludlow where Jason Maguire was handed a 14-day suspension which would rule him out of the Cheltenham Festival.

Jason Maguire will appeal the 14-day suspension he received at Ludlow which would rule him out of competing at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The Grand National-winning rider finished seventh aboard the Ben Pauling-trained Born To Succeed in the concluding Onny Maiden Hurdle, which was won by 20/1 shot King Alfonso.

Maguire's partner was beaten 23 and three-quarters of a length, but the local stewards found him guilty of "schooling/conditioning the horse on the racecourse".

The jockey is due to be sidelined between March 4-17 which would see him miss the four-day Festival, which begins on March 10.

But Maguire, who missed last season's National Hunt showcase meeting due to injury, told Press Association Sport: "I have no comment to make but I'm definitely going to appeal."

Born To Succeed was also banned from running in any race for 40 days, with Pauling fined £3,000.

Pauling refused to comment on the incident, but told Press Association Sport he, too, would appeal the stewards' decision.

A statement issued by the BHA read: "The rider stated that his instructions were to drop the gelding in and get him settled and then to do his best work late on.

"He added that he asked the gelding to make up ground in the back straight but was forced to go wide on the track.

"He further added that the gelding became very tired at the entrance to the home straight, was not quick enough to take any gaps and did not jump well in the closing stages.

"He therefore felt it prudent to keep a good hold of the horse.

"The trainer confirmed that the rider had ridden in accordance with his instructions and added that Born To Succeed is an extremely nervous horse at home.

"He was therefore keen that the horse should be allowed to get home in its race in order to progress its education.

"Having heard their evidence and viewed recordings of the race, the stewards found the rider in breach of Rule (B)59.2 and the trainer in breach of Rule (C)45.4, in that they were guilty of schooling/conditioning the horse on the racecourse.

"They fined the trainer £3,000 and suspended the horse from running in any race for 40 days from Saturday, February 21 to Wednesday, April 1 inclusive."

Rascal will revert to novice company following a facile victory in the Shukers Land Rover Handicap Hurdle at Ludlow.

Sent straight into the lead by Harry Skelton, the well-supported 2/1 favourite put in a polished round of jumping to take the two-mile-five-furlong contest by 11 lengths from Dardanella.

Skelton told Racing UK: "The handicapper will probably have his say, so it's more than likely I'll drop him back to a novice and let Bridget (Andrews) ride him.

"He's won his two races and that's a great season for him now."

Jonjo O'Neill continued his recent resurgence after notching a double with horses sporting the colours of owner Gay Smith.

Champagne Present (13/8), wearing a first-time hood, got the ball rolling when taking the step up to three miles in his stride in the Deborah Grogan Fabulous at 50 Birthday Maiden Hurdle.

The trainer-and-owner combination completed the double after Twirling Magnet (2/1 favourite) landed the Chase Meredith Memorial Trophy Open Hunters Chase.

Shuil Royal overcame an absence of 376 days to make a winning seasonal debut on his first start for trainer Harry Fry in the Weatherbys Hamilton Handicap Chase.

Responding well to Ryan Mahon's urgings, the 9/4 favourite repelled the strong-travelling Shy John by a head in the three-mile affair.

There was an equally close finish to the Ludlow Race Club Members Handicap Chase, with Kerryhead Storm (4/1) holding Sunny Ledgend by a neck.

Ascendant (13/2) made it two wins from as many visits to the Shropshire track when making all of the running in the Weatherbys Handicap Hurdle.

After unseating his rider at Chepstow last time out, the nine-year old followed up his success at the track last month when taking the two-mile heat by a length and three-quarters.

King Alfonso sprang a surprise when obliging at 20/1 under Robbie Dunne in the concluding two-mile Onny Maiden Hurdle.