Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Richard Johnson handed seven day ban and £6,550 fine after Native River success
Johnson has been hit with a lengthy suspension and sizeable fine, which is proportional to the £369,821 first prize
Alex RichardsAssistant Sport Editor
Johnson has been fined and banned for seven days (Image: Reuters)
Richard Johnson has been banned for seven days and fined £6,550 after being found guilty of misusing his whip during his Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup victory aboard Native River.
The Colin Tizzard-trained victor was involved in a prolonged duel with Might Bite in the three-and-a-quarter-mile feature race, to the delight of the crowds at Prestbury Park.
Eventually, after a titanic tussle between the pair, Native River came home four and a half lengths clear to take the blue riband event of the meeting.
However, the stewards found Johnson had used his whip above the permitted level from approaching the second-last fence.
Therefore, Johnson has been hit with a lengthy suspension and sizeable fine, which is proportional to the £369,821 first prize.
Native Winner saw off Might Bite's challenge (Image: Getty)
A delighted Richard Johnson with the Gold Cup (Image: REUTERS)
Native River wins 2018 Gold Cup ahead of favourite Might Bite on final day of Cheltenham Festival
Speaking after a second Gold Cup success, Johnson said: "I'm speechless. He's been a fantastic horse for me and I was lucky to pick up the ride on him.
"He's just amazing. He jumps for fun. I was getting squeezed, but at the second-last and the last he just wanted it so much.
"I knew Nico (de Boinville, on Might Bite) was there and to be fair to Might Bite, he's run a hell of race, but I think we just outstayed him.
"They are two very brave horses."
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Colin Tizzard