Daryl Jacob© Photo Healy Racing
Daryl Jacob will miss the big Christmas and New Year meetings after losing his appeal to the British Horseracing Authority against a 10-day ban he received at Wincanton last week.
The jump jockey has to sit out December 20-22, 26-31 and January 1.
He would have expected to have ridden plenty of top-class horses for Paul Nicholls, who employs him as second jockey to Ruby Walsh.
Jacob had been in line for the mount on Kauto Stone in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day after partnering him to victory at Down Royal last month. He also misses Chepstow's Welsh National meeting.
He has been punished for failing to ride out to the line on Ulis De Vassy at Wincanton last Thursday.
Jacob was in front over the last flight on the Nick Williams-trained Ulis De Vassy in the Racing Welfare Fox-Pitt Eventing Handicap Hurdle but was headed inside the last 100 yards by Quaddick Lake.
It appeared that Jacob mistook a path, several strides before the line, as the winning post, before realising his error and riding out for a couple of strides more.
The stewards punished him under Rule (B)59.4 as they believed he still could have won. The official winning margin was a neck.
The BHA Press Office tweeted: "Daryl Jacob appeal dismissed. Jacob admitted to stopping riding briefly. Panel found that horse could have won race, thus suspension stands."
