Doyle's spectacular summer hit with hefty ban for whip misuse

It has been a spectacular summer so far for James Doyle, but the leading jockey will be forced to miss the end of July after receiving a 15-day ban for misuse of the whip.

A Group 1 double at Royal Ascot with Big Orange and Barney Roy were the highlights for Doyle last month, and he so nearly carried off another top-level prize in the Coral-Eclipse last weekend when the latter was edged out by Ulysses.

But instead, Doyle's efforts aboard the runner-up led to him being referred to the BHA under the totting-up procedure, and he was given a 15-day ban on Thursday, of which five days are deferred.

Doyle's streak of big-race wins showed no signs of slowing at Newmarket on Thursday as he took out the Group 2 July Stakes with Cardsharp then added the Group 2 Princess of Wales's Stakes an hour later on Hawkbill.

The ban will start on July 21, and Doyle was phlegmatic about the suspension, saying: "What can you do? It is what is and the rules are in place. I didn't adapt to them as well as I should've done after coming back from riding in Australia for five and a half months where it's a very different style of riding, especially with the whip.

"Going forward it's something I need to work on, but it sounds a lot worse than it is. I had 190 rides and five individual taps behind the saddle in five races has been the problem. I fully respect the rules and we've got the best whip rules in the world, in my opinion."

With 43 winners on the board in Britain this year, Doyle is on target to break the century mark for the third time in four years, having reached 99 in 2016, and added: "Things are going very well and I can't complain at all."

Lulu Stanford: apprentice was handed a much longer suspension for a similar offenceCredit: Steve Dennis

Rougher justice for Stanford

On the same day that Doyle received 15 days for a breach under Schedule (B)6 Part 2 of the rules of racing, apprentice Lulu Stanford received a 24-day suspension, with eight deferred, for a similar breach.

It is understood that the BHA were unsure of the reasons for Stanford's ban being so much longer than Doyle's, having submitted very similar cases to the disciplinary panel for both hearings.

Stanford, who has ridden 11 winners this year and 32 in total, was referred following her ride on 5-1 favourite Forever Yours, who finished fourth in an apprentice handicap at Windsor on Monday.

Her suspension will run from July 21 until August 5 inclusive, with the eight deferred days until September 16 inclusive.

The panel must publish their reasons within 48 hours and they are thus expected on Friday or Monday.