Excessive: Gosden criticises Havlin's 13-day whip ban as rider considers appeal

John Gosden has labelled the 13-day ban for overuse of the whip handed to Robert Havlin by the Windsor stewards on Monday night as "excessive".

Havlin went above the permitted level of seven strokes on the Gosden-trained Frontman, who finished runner-up to Rum Baba in the mile maiden.

Watch the ride in question here

However, the trainer defended his jockey and said: "Frontman's an idle horse and I thought the ban was excessive. The horse was not helping the jockey, that's for sure, and he was wearing cheekpieces which gives you a clue as to his attitude.

"We may even have to switch to blinkers next time. I can't remember the last time Rab had a whip ban as he's a proper horseman."

This year only Alex Edwards, who picked up a 15-day suspension at Cheltenham in May, has been given a longer ban in Britain solely for overuse of the whip. Poppy Bridgwater also received a 15-day ban at Southwell in May for using the whip in the wrong place and going above the permitted level.

Havlin on Tuesday said he will take the advice of the Professional Jockeys Association before deciding whether to appeal against the ban.

The rider said: "Obviously I went over the permitted level but they were not hard hits – there was no force in them. The horse was not marked and the lad who looks after him said he ate up as normal this morning so there was no harm done. I can't remember the last time I had a whip ban, it must be many years ago.

"Paul Struthers from the PJA is going to have a look at the footage from the track when he gets it on Wednesday. This will determine whether we appeal or just take it on the chin."

Long attached to the Gosden yard and entrusted with riding out many of the stable's top acts, including Enable and Cracksman, the 45-year-old Havlin enjoyed his best season in 2018 with 127 winners. He has ridden 33 winners this year, 25 of them for Gosden.

If Havlin fails to overturn the ban, which runs from July 15 to July 27, he will miss King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes day at Ascot.

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