Cheltenham Festival ante post punters were dealt a blow when Jason Maguire was ruled out of riding Peddlers Cross in the Stan James Champion Hurdle on March 15th.

Backers of the horse will be unimpressed to see that the in-form Irish jockey has been handed a seven-day suspension after stewards at Doncaster took action against his ride on Donald McCain’s Cool Mission.

The chaser finished second to Beshabar in an all action finish to the beginners' chase and his ban will be effective from March 9th to the 15th.

Five days were handed to Maguire for marking the horse while two were given to the star for using his whip with excessive frequency.

Peddlers Cross remains unbeaten over hurdles and a clash with the likes of Menorah, Binocular and Hurricane Fly awaits McCain’s stable star at next month’s Festival.

Stipendiary steward Robert Earnshaw explained after the race: "He has been suspended for using his whip on Cool Mission. The veterinary officer found that the horse had minor weals, for which he was suspended five days.

"He was also suspended two days for using his whip with excessive frequency."