James Bowen's Cheltenham Festival hopes rest on appeal

James Bowen has lodged an appeal against the suspension which currently rules him out of the Cheltenham Festival.

Bowen was adjudged to have used his whip twice above the permitted level of seven strikes when winning at Hereford aboard Zestful Hope on Sunday.

The seven-day ban runs from a week on Tuesday to the following Monday, and while jockeys do have the option of moving suspensions from the Whip Review Committee back to 14 days from the date of the race, Bowen is already banned on Sunday and Monday due to a careless riding offence in the same race.

Speaking after riding a winner at Wetherby on Wednesday, Bowen said: "It's not ideal, but I made a mistake and I have to suffer the consequences."

However, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Thursday that Bowen, who would have been well used by Nicky Henderson throughout the week, has appealed with the details to be finalised at a later date.