Wayne Lordan to miss big rides on Aidan O'Brien stars after appeal against ten-day whip ban is dismissed

Wayne Lordan will miss Doncaster's St Leger meeting and the Irish Champions Festival after his appeal against a ten-day ban for incorrect use of the whip was dismissed.

Lordan lodged an appeal after he was suspended by the whip review committee for three instances of using the whip in the incorrect place on Precise when she won the Group 3 Prestige Stakes at Goodwood last month.

The multiple Classic-winning jockey accepted a breach of rule (F)45 to the independent disciplinary panel that his sixth strike of the whip on the Aidan O'Brien-trained filly landed in the incorrect place, but he argued the fourth and fifth strikes in the final furlong had not.

However, the panel deemed those two uses of the whip also breached the rules. The rider will be banned between September 9 and September 18 and his fine of £1,250 stands.

Panel chairman James O'Mahony said: "We find on the balance of probabilities clear evidence of use of the whip in the incorrect place. Mr Lordan, I'm sorry you will be disappointed, but we've reached our decision in good faith."

Lordan, who was represented by Graeme McPherson KC, said he did not feel he had hit Precise in an incorrect place, but that she was a short-coupled filly and her tack had "slightly" gone back and slipped off of her shoulder.

He also defended his whip action, telling the panel: "Everyone has a different style. I don't bring my stick right out to help two-year-olds. I just like to flick them behind and encourage horses to lengthen and extend their action."

The BHA was represented by its interim co-director of integrity and regulation Aja Hall. She said there was "absolute clear evidence" the fourth and fifth strikes did not correctly reach Precise's hind-quarter and connected with her stomach, which the panel agreed with.

O'Mahony said: "We find there was overwhelming evidence from Mr Lordan's body movement of using the whip in an incorrect place. That is supported by absence of any clear evidence of use of the whip to the correct place."

Wayne Lordan partnered St Leger favourite Scandinavia (right) to Goodwood Cup glory last timeCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

The panel also said footage of Lordan's incorrectly placed sixth strike showed a consistent pattern and leant support to the BHA's beliefs about the fourth and fifth uses of the whip.

Lordan will miss some lucrative opportunities next weekend for Ballydoyle, including in the St Leger, with Ryan Moore set to miss the rest of the season due to a fractured femur.

O'Brien has the favourite in the Betfred-backed Classic in Scandinavia, who Lordan partnered to Goodwood Cup glory on his latest start. He also won the Derby on Lambourn, who also looks set to run at Doncaster.

O'Brien has said Christophe Soumillon will play a big part in his team in the coming months. Soumillon will ride Los Angeles in the Prix Foy, Henri Matisse in the Prix du Moulin, Whirl in the Prix Vermeille and Swagman in the Prix Niel for O'Brien at Longchamp on Sunday, with Lordan also in action in Paris. 

Soumillon has also given up the chance to be reunited with Derby runner-up Lazy Griff in the St Leger. It clashes with the opening day of the Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown, where O'Brien is set to run Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (5.30) favourite Delacroix.

Read this next:

Christophe Soumillon gives up Lazy Griff ride in St Leger following Ballydoyle call up 

Aidan O'Brien: Christophe Soumillon to play a major role for Ballydoyle this autumn in Ryan Moore's injury absence 

Ballydoyle rocked by shock news that Ryan Moore will miss rest of Flat season with a broken leg 

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