'I'm absolutely gutted' - Lorcan Williams to miss Cheltenham after receiving 18-day ban

Lorcan Williams said he is "absolutely gutted" to miss the Cheltenham Festival after being handed an 18-day suspension for being in breach of the new whip rules.

The jockey was penalised for overuse of the whip in Saturday's Grade 2 Prestige Novices' Hurdle at Haydock, where his mount Makin'yourmindup narrowly edged out Collectors Item by a short head.

His ban does not commence until March 7 so he will miss the Cheltenham Festival, which begins a week later on March 14.

Kevin Brogan, the rider of Collectors Item, also received eight days for going one strike over the permitted limit in the closing stages of the Haydock contest and will miss the opening day of the festival. The pair were among 19 riders handed suspensions from the first week of racing under the new rules, although Williams received the longest ban.

Williams said on Monday he feared he would get a 14-day suspension but he was hit with an extra four days due to using the whip above shoulder height. The ban will run until March 24, with the whip review committee ordering one day be spent at the British Racing School or an alternate BHA approved provider for training. He was also fined £1,050.

Willaims said: "I'm absolutely gutted, but it is what it is and I'll take it on the chin. Hopefully I'll learn from it but it has been a hard transition for us all.

"It's very difficult because it's been a big change and the bedding-in period of the new rules wasn't a success by any means."

The new whip rules came into force over jumps on February 13 after a bedding-in period despite calls from jockeys and trainers to delay implementation until after the major spring festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree.

'It doesn't have to be us against them'

The rules included a reduction in the number of strikes permitted from eight to seven over jumps, plus a tightening of the regulations on use of the whip over shoulder height.

Williams said he used the whip twice over the permitted count of seven, but a harsher penalty process is in place under the new rules and any ban is doubled in Class 1 and Class 2 races.

The 23-year-old feels the authorities need to do more to work with jockeys for the good of the sport.

He said: "At the moment it's us against them unfortunately – they say these are the rules and you do as you're told. There is a lot of depth to this and although it can't be sorted quickly because it's not an easy position, something needs to be done.

"I just think ourselves, owners, trainers and the BHA all need to work together to get this right for our sport.

"It's easy for me to say because I'm at the end of it, but we want the best for our sport and we want it to grow.

"It doesn't have to be us against them. If the BHA thinks this topic is something that needs to be worked on, then we have to work together and come up with some sort of agreement that works."

Lorcan Williams: "I'm absolutely gutted, but it is what it is and I'll take it on the chin"Credit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

Although Williams is aware that adjusting to the new rules will take time, he says the bedding-in period was not a success.

He said: "Sean Quinlan could have got 51 days under the new rules, while Harry Cobden almost got 24 days. Brian Hughes, who has never been called in for anything really, could have also got a ban.

"They are jockeys who ride day in, day out, and I think we all need to work together. It's not going to be easy and it will take time, but it doesn't need to be us against them."

The rider was recording his 19th win of the season with Makin'yourmindup at Haydock and admitted it was a tough punishment to take after a hard-fought race.

He said: "It's hard to keep your emotions in when you're in that tight of a finish, especially with the new rules we're having to adapt to.

"I'm absolutely gutted about the days I got, but I'm absolutely delighted I won the race because it was a Grade 2 and I'm happy for my owners and trainer."

Despite knowing he will miss out at this year's festival, Williams is trying to remain positive as he continues to enjoy a strong season.

He added: "It's tough times. We're all sportsmen and women so we'll get through it and hopefully we can improve and get better.

"Hopefully there will be an outcome on all of this. I'm still a very young jockey in the weighing room but I know senior jockeys like Cobden and Harry Skelton are trying their best to get it sorted and I'll do what I can to help."

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