McGuinness hit with bans totalling 12 days

Rider Luke McGuinness was hit with bans totalling 12 days at Tipperary on Thursday evening after attempting to weigh out wearing an unapproved back protector, in addition to putting up undeclared overweight.

McGuinness was due to ride Pivot Bridge in the 2m4f handicap hurdle, but when presenting at the scales he was found to be 2lb overweight and to be wearing an unapproved body protector.

The rider told the stewards he had inadvertently worn the body protector he used for riding exercise to the scales, and was hit with a seven-day ban plus a further two days for the overweight which had not been declared, his previous record having been taken into consideration.

The rider had received a similar ban for putting up 2lb overweight at Limerick in early April.

McGuinness did get the permission of the stewards to put up the overweight, but it didn't end there for him as he received a further three-day ban when he weighed in a further 1.4lb overweight after the race. The rider told the stewards he drank a cup of water to rehydrate after weighing out.