Jason Maguire has confirmed he will appeal against a seven-day ban that has seen him ruled out of riding leading Champion Hurdle contender Peddlers Cross at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

The Irish jockey was in line to ride Donald McCain’s unbeaten six-year-old at the Festival, but was handed his ban after the stewards to action against his ride on Cool Mission at Doncaster on Wednesday.

He will be suspended from the 9th to the 15th March with five days received for marking the horse, and two days for using the whip with excessive frequency.

"It's very frustrating for me because it's the first day of Cheltenham and I'm due to ride Peddlers Cross,” Maguire explained.

"I'm obviously going to have to appeal and see what happens.  I gave the horse a strong ride. It's the marking that's caused the problem.  Once you mark a horse there's no comeback from that, but something has to be done about that rule.

"We are all interested in the welfare of horses but there has to be some leeway for the jockeys."

Meanwhile Peddlers Cross’ trainer McCain said: "The stewards in the north have been chasing us all year and now they've got us.

"This has happened an awful lot with my horses in the north and it's becoming a joke.  I don't stop horses, we don't abuse horses - they are always at the tough end of racing - and all we do is our best.

"The horse has been marked - I can't argue with that - but the horse is notoriously lazy at the best of times.  Jason is devastated as they've cost him a Champion Hurdle ride.

"At least I've still got a Champion Hurdle horse - he hasn't got anything and has put in so much work with the horse."