Banned Fortune delays Indian trip Jimmy Fortune was banned for 18 days - four days of which will be deferred - at a hearing of the Jockey Club`s disciplinary committee today and will now delay a planned trip to India.The suspension will commence on November 23rd to December 12th on days on which Flat racing is scheduled to take place.'I had plans to go to India. I was due to go out there but obviously I`ve had to postpone things,' Fortune said.The jockey was referred to Portman Square after being found guilty of careless riding at Doncaster on Friday.His referral was automatic as he had accrued a total of 17 days of suspensions for causing interference in the previous 12 months.The Doncaster stewards considered that he had not taken sufficient measures to prevent his mount, Bowlers Boy, from hanging into Sir Francis, ridden by Jason Weaver, a furlong out in the UK Coal Lionheart Handicap.Having considered evidence from the jockey and viewed video recordings of the race, the committee accepted an admission from Fortune that Bowlers Boy had interfered with Sir Francis, and that the interference was caused by careless riding on his part in that he continued to ride the gelding out without attempting to correct it.Taking into account that Fortune had been suspended for 17 days for interference since May 28 this year, the committee banned him from riding for 18 days, of which four will be deferred until May 14 2002.'I was very happy with the hearing. I got a very fair hearing,' Fortune added.
