Robert Havlin hit with 13-day whip ban by stewards after neck defeat at Windsor

Robert Havlin was handed one of the biggest suspensions for overuse of the whip in recent years when the Windsor stewards meted out 13 days for his ride on Frontman in the mile maiden on Monday evening.

A brusque stewards' report stated Havlin had broken the rules with his use of the whip in the last two furlongs on Frontman, who was beaten a neck by favourite Rum Baba.

The stewards did not elaborate in the report on how many times Havlin had used his whip above the permitted seven times in a race on the John Gosden-trained colt, who was having his second outing.

The BHA is currently discussing tougher bans for whip offences.

Havlin has ridden 33 winners this year and was in the top four jockeys on the all-weather over the winter until breaking his collarbone and some ribs in a frightening fall at Kempton in February.

Long attached to the John Gosden yard and entrusted with riding out many of the stable's top acts, including Enable, the 45-year-old Havlin enjoyed his best season in 2018 with 127 winners.

The ban, which starts after Newmarket's big July meeting and before the Goodwood five-day festival, still rules him out of Ascot's valuable meeting featuring the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, sponsored by Qipco, and comes at a bad time with the busy midsummer season in full swing.

Havlin is banned from July 15 to July 27.

Race result and replay

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