Weaver loses his appeal against ban

Jason Weaver yesterday lost his appeal against a four-day suspension for irresponsible riding meted out at Pontefract. The offence triggers a deferred five-day ban from August, putting Weaver on the sidelines for a total of nine days. His suspension begins today and runs until Friday week.

Weaver's appeal against the ban was quickly dismissed by the Jockey Club's disciplinary committee in Portman Square, who upheld the ruling of the Pontefract stewards.

Mark Johnston's stable jockey has been the hardest-hit of all leading jockeys in the Jockey Club's crackdown against riding offences. The latest ban means he will have been on the sidelines for 42 days this year.

Weaver, who misses the Cesarewitch meeting at Newmarket, was incensed by the Pontefract stewards' decision and said then: "Any interference was minimal. They are trying to take away a man's livelihood."