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http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/

AMATEUR rider Robert Cooper shrugged off the disappointment of receiving a 52-day whip ban by riding a rare winner at Fontwell on Thursday.

Only hours after the BHA dished out the lengthy punishment for his winning ride on Elton Fox at Uttoxter last month, Cooper steered the well-backed Mortimers Cross to an emotional success.

As the jockey passed the winning line to register only his third winner in 4,328 days, he threw his whip into the air in celebration.

Earlier in the day, the BHA's disciplinary panel reviewed Cooper's ride on Elton Fox, who won by a length, and found the jockey had hit the six-year-old 23 times (12 without allowing time to respond).

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...es/975116/top/

ON A day dominated by the whip, jockey Robert Winston vented his frustration at the Southwell stewards, who banned him for 22 days for using his whip with excessive frequency.

Fellow jockeys Nicky Mackay, also at Soutwell, Lee Edwards (Fontwell) and Michael Stainton, Ian Mongan and John Fahy (Kempton) were handed less severe penalties on the same day that the BHA issued amateur Robert Cooper a colossal 52-day whip ban for his winning ride on Elton Fox at Uttoxeter on December 31.

In total 93 days worth of bans were given to the seven jockeys on Thursday.

He added: "It feels like an insult being told what to do. I'm trying to get my career back on track and now I've got a 22-day ban. I will speak to the PJA - I'm not happy about it. I will also discuss whether to appeal with my agent."

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...975139/latest/

UAE, Thursday

Al Maktoum Challenge R1 Sponsored By Etisalat (Group 3) 1m, 3yo+, AW

MIKE DE KOCK is always a trainer to fear in the big races and Musir gave him further reason to celebrate after he ran out an ultra-impressive winnerof Thursday evening's feature race.

De Kock said: "Obviously we are delighted with that and Musir is a much stronger horse than he was in his Classic year and again from last year. I do still feel that turf is his best surface and the Dubai Duty Free is his main target.