Racing: Cochrane grounded

RAY COCHRANE will miss his intended ride on Selkirk in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday week, after receiving a four-day whip suspension at Bath yesterday.

His conflict with the stewards followed the Bathford Nursery where his mount, Finavon, finished a short-head runner-up to 2-1 favourite Erlking. The stewards ruled that Cochrane hit the horse with unreasonable frequency.

Trainer Ian Balding will have to find a replacement jockey for Selkirk, last season's European champion miler, who was partnered by Cochrane to a smooth victory over Kooyonga in the same race last year. Cochrane's ban starts on 23 September, and he will miss the entire three-day Ascot meeting.