Top News

Grand National-winning jockey Ryan Mania was banned for ten days on Thursday for ‘failing to demonstrate sufficient effort’ on a beaten horse at Wetherby. Mania, 37, rose to fame when he rode 66-1 chance Auroras Encore to victory in the 2013 Grand National and has ridden 373 winners in his career.

He partnered the Ruth Jefferson-trained Dontelimurnamepike, a 50-1 chance having his third start, in the Juvenile Hurdle at the Yorkshire track. The four-year-old was towards the rear for most of the contest and didn’t begin to make headway until approaching the last obstacle, eventually finishing fifth, 21¼ lengths behind the winner Klycot.

The ride caught the eye of the stewards who called an inquiry into the running and riding of the gelding.

• Up and coming Willie Mullins jockey exits at final fence with big race victory in sights

• Jockey Callum Pritchard in hospital after his helmet is knocked off in 'nasty incident'

The report from the British Horseracing Authority said Dontelimurnamepike was “ridden towards the rear of the field and stayed on strongly after jumping the final flight of hurdles”.

Mania and Jefferson were interviewed and shown recordings of the race, the handicapper offered observations and the vet who examined the horse found no issues with him.

Mania told the hearing that his instructions were to ride the horse “in a handy position and ride the race as he found it and to obtain the best possible placing; he was also mindful that Dontelimurnamepike has previously ran out and as such wanted to get his mount jumping well”

He went on that “going out on the away bend he found his mount to be struggling with the ground and losing his position as a result, he added that he was encouraging his mount to travel better going down the back straight and as the pace weakened entering the bend leaving the back straight he was then able to tack onto the rear of the field”.

The jockey concluded that “he didn’t want to resort to the use of his whip and rode his mount out hands and heels passing weakening horses to obtain in his opinion the best possible placing”.

Jefferson confirmed the instruction but voiced “reservations” that the horse was “ridden further towards the rear than she had anticipated”.

Mania was suspended for 10 days for failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to obtain the best possible placing “in that he failed to demonstrate sufficient effort after jumping the second last hurdle”.

Separately Mania was also reported by the clerk of the scales after he weighed in at 11st 4lb, having weighed out at 11st. He received a one day ban. The dates of his suspension are February 5 to February 15 inclusive.