Maguire will miss cheltenham after appeal fails

Kilmessan's Jason Maguire will miss the Cheltenham Festival for the second year-in-a-row after his appeal against a 14-day ban was dismissed.

The 2011 Grand National-winning rider was suspended under the 'non-triers' rule at Ludlow on Wednesday 18th February.

Maguire missed the 2014 Cheltenham meeting after being seriously injured in a fall on the eve of the fixture.

The 34-year-old Irishman's ban runs from 4th to 17th March, with the four-day Festival starting on Tuesday 10th March.

Maguire finished seventh at Ludlow on the Ben Pauling-trained Born To Succeed in the Onny Maiden Hurdle.

Pauling was also penalised and his original £3,000 fine remains. Born To Succeed, a five-year-old gelding, is suspended from running for 40 days.

Maguire, who won the Grand National at Aintree on Ballabriggs, was found guilty by stewards of 'schooling/conditioning the horse on the racecourse'.

His mount finished 23 and three-quarter lengths behind the winner, 20-1 shot King Alfonso.