JOCKEY J.J. Slevin has been given a 14-day ban by the British Horseracing Authority's Whip Review Committee for his winning ride on Home By The Lee in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham last week. He has also been fined £3,400.

Slevin was found to have used his whip twice above the permitted level of seven from turning into the home straight. Taking into account that this was a Class 1 race, the penalty in respect of being above the permitted level was doubled.

While Slevin is due to be suspended for 14 racedays starting from Tuesday, March 31st and ending on Tuesday, April 14th, he has the option of applying to the BHA to move his suspension meaning that he would only miss the first day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree.

Patrick Mullins has received an eight-day suspension for using his whip once above the permitted level aboard Road To Home, runner-up in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase. Mullins, who also picked up a two-day suspension on the Friday of Cheltenham, will miss the Foxhunters at Aintree but will be free to ride in the Grand National.

Shane Cotter, who won the Kim Muir aboard Ask Brewster, also used his whip once more than permitted and has been banned for eight days.

There is also an eight-day ban for Sean Flanagan, who was found to have used his whip once more than permitted aboard Fruit De Mer, runner-up in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Gavin Sheehan, who won that race on Johnny's Jury, used his whip twice more than allowed and has been banned for 14 days as well as being fined £1,600. Sheehan has the option of applying to move his ban in order to allow him ride in the Grand National, but he will miss the first two days of Aintree.