Ban Rules Dettori Out Of Royal Ascot

Frankie Dettori has been ruled out of the entire Royal Ascot at York meeting after picking up a six-day ban for careless riding at Haydock yesterday.

Dettori was given the suspension for his ride on Royal Orissa in the EBF D.Kitchen Ltd Handicap.

He edged right on the Derek Haydn Jones-trained runner while towards the rear of the field, interfering with the Fran Berry-ridden Aversham, who took a nasty fall.

Both Berry and the horse appeared to walk away unscathed.

Dettori´s ban is to run from June 13-18 inclusive, which will rule him out of all five days of the high-profile meeting at the Yorkshire venue.

Stipendiary steward Louise Williams said: 'The penalty for careless riding ranges from a caution to nine days.

'Approaching the two-furlong marker Dettori manoeuvred to his right and Mr Berry clipped his heels. We considered it to be seriously careless and we have given him six days, so that is the whole of Ascot.'

Dettori will miss what would have been a top-class book of rides at the Royal meeting, including the scheduled return of last year´s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes winner Doyen in either the Prince Of Wales´s Stakes or the Hardwicke Stakes.

He enjoyed a bumper Royal Ascot last season, notching six winners highlighted by Group One victories from Refuse To Bend in the Queen Anne Stakes and Papineau in the Gold Cup.

Bans of two days or less can be deferred when there is a Group One race, but even if Dettori decides to appeal that will not apply unless his suspension is reduced by at least four days.

The popular Italian left Haydock to ride at Sandown Park last night, where he won on Desert Chief for the Godolphin team.

? PA Sport