Mick Fitzgerald today lost his appeal against suspension and will miss Saturday`s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury.
The jump jockey appeared before the Jockey Club disciplinary committee this morning in an attempt to reduce or overturn a six-day ban he was handed at Cheltenham the weekend before last.
But after a hearing the committee decided the suspension - which starts today - should stand. That rules Fitzgerald out of the Newbury showpiece, in which he had been set to partner Ad Hoc after the withdrawal of his original mount, Marlborough.
Fitzgerald was handed the ban after being found guilty of "irresponsible riding of a major nature" on runner-up Surprising in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham.
He was penalised for interfering with third-placed Telemoss after the third-last flight and his mount was demoted a place by the stewards.
It is the second year running the Irish jockey has missed the Hennessy: 12 months ago he was sidelined by injury during the Newbury meeting.
He is barred from riding in Britain until next Tuesday but he could take mounts at Fairyhouse on Sunday as there is no racing in Britain that day.
After the hearing, Fitzgerald paid tribute to his solicitor Andrew Chalk. "Andrew Chalk did a great job for me but it just wasn`t to be," the jockey said.