Lorcan Wyer joined Richard Johnson as another leading jockey set for a spell on the sidelines as whip misuse came under the microscope for the second time yesterday.
A few hours after Johnson learned his fate at the Jockey Club's disciplinary committee for contravening the rules several times, it was the turn of Wyer to court trouble at Catterick.
In the morning, Johnson had been banned from riding by the Jockey Club's disciplinary committee for 14 days for his use of the whip under the 15-day referral rule, and Wyer was also given a suspension after he had partnered Scotton Green to a a narrow success in the Wakefield Novices' Chase at Catterick. Wyer struck the 10 to 11 chance a couple of times before the final fence and 13 times on the run-in as his mount denied Birkdale by a head.
The stewards found that the jockey had been guilty of excessive use and hit him with a four-day ban (January 16th, 18th-20th). The suspension means that Wyer will miss the ride on Cumbrian Challenge in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot.
Wyer immediately held up his hands and said: "I have to accept the decision and it's a shame about missing the Ascot race."
Wyer was also liberal with use of the whip on Balleswhidden, the winner of the fourth race on the card, but no action was taken on this occasion.
There was no such good fortune for Johnson during his Portman Square visit, for he also received a four-day suspended ban which will come into effect if he breaks the whip rules again in the next six months.
Johnson had incurred 15 days of suspensions in the last 12 months - November (four days), May (four), March (five) and January (two) - for whip offences. A further breach of instruction H9 at Cheltenham on New Year's Day meant he faced the disciplinary committee and will now sit out for a fortnight.
The total 18-day punishment is the same as the one handed out to Tony McCoy in November, also for breaches of the whip guidelines.
The disciplinary committee also informed Johnson that, like McCoy before him, he must attend a day at the British Racing School during his suspension.
