TOP Northern jockey Mark Dwyer will miss the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival after picking up a three day ban for misuse of the whip when finishing a head runner up on Master Nova behind Baronet in the Levy Board Leap Year National Hunt Novices Hurdle at Nottingham yesterday.

Dwyer was found guilty of improper riding by the local stewards, who ruled that he had used his whip with unreasonable frequency on the Maurice Camacho trained 11 to 8 favourite from the final flight.

The stewards reached their decision after hearing Dwyer's evidence and viewing a video recording of the race, and it means that the Irishman will be suspended from riding on March 9th, 11th and 12th, the final day being the opening afternoon of the three day Prestbury Park showpiece, when the feature event is the Champion Hurdle.

To rub salt into his "wounds", Dwyer, partnering Valley Garden, was brought down by Five Flags, who fell at the second flight an hour later in the Sporting Index Final Spread Handicap Hurdle won by Dominie.

As he walked back off the track to the weighing room following his tumble, Dwyer was very tight lipped regarding the punishment he had received. Asked if he would consider appealing, Dwyer gave a firm "no - there's no point." He added: "It's the first time I've ever been in trouble over misuse of the whip in Britain, although I have twice been suspended in Ireland.

"If was disappointing not to get just two days as it was my first offence over here and that would have meant not missing the opening day of Cheltenham."

Meanwhile, charitable Andrew Thornton gave fellow jockey Tony McCoy a much needed helping hand before steering Maamur to victory at Ludlow. Thornton, aboard the top weight and McCoy on stablemate Rectory Garden were disputing the running at the 14th fence of the Forbra Gold Challenge Cup Handicap Chase when the latter blundered badly.

McCoy was left teetering on the brink of imminent disaster when Thornton sportingly grabbed his arm and helped him hack into the saddle. And the gesture paid handsome dividends as Maamur galloped on strongly to take the race under top weight by three lengths over Rectory Garden and earn a trip to the Cheltenham Festival.