One of Ireland’s leading amateur jockeys is clear to ride his big race mount at the Cheltenham Festival, despite being banned for 21 days.
James Hannon was suspended by Ireland’s referrals committee after camera footage picked up a physical altercation between him and another rider, at the end of a point-to-point last month.
The penalty starts on March 11 but he will be able to take the mount on leading National Hunt Chase challenger Churchstonewarrior on March 14, the first day of the Festival, because the sentence only covers days when there are point-to-point fixtures.
