Jason Maguire ruled out of Cheltenham as 14-day ban upheld

Second year in a row that he'll miss the festival.

Jason Maguire's hopes of getting to ride at Chelteham are over after his appeal against a 14-day ban was deemed unsuccessful today. The winner of the 2011 Grand National missed the 2014 festival due to injury, and now he's set to miss the action in Prestbury Park, after being found guilty of 'schooling/conditioning a horse on the racecourse'. The decision was reached after Maguire came home seventh in the Onny Maiden Hurdle aboard Born to Succeed last Wednesday, when he was beaten by over 20 lengths in the race by King Alonso. Trainer Ben Pauling was also fined €4,000 and the horse has been given a 40-day racing ban, which is a bit harsh considering it hardly knew what it was doing was in breach of the rules. Maguire is now set to be out of action from March 4-17 meaning he'll just have to watch the action at home like the rest of us. H/T to Sportinglife