Top jockey David Allan has been warned about committing further whip offences after being hit with a huge riding ban.

The 43-year-old stable jockey to Tim Easterby, who has ridden nearly 1,400 winners, is having his best year in the saddle with 80 victories and in excess of £1 million in prize-money earnings. But he landed in trouble with stewards who referred him to the BHA’s disciplinary panel after breaking the whip rules for the fourth time in six months, under the ‘totting up’ procedure.

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Panel chair Rachel Spearing KC described Allan as a ‘repeat offender’ of the whip rules as the latest referral was his third since the new rules came into force in March 2023. He was also sanctioned for multiple breaches in November 2023 and 2024.

Spearing said: “It is also of great concern to the BHA that the most recent referral, incurring a suspension of 32 days was imposed just 11 months ago.

“Whilst noting the gap in breaches until June 2025, there was a swift totting up thereafter with the final two breaches occurring within just a two-week period. The earlier November 2024 referral came just 12 months after receiving a 26-day suspension for the previous referral, and so this is now the third referral in under two years.

“The BHA incorporate the Independent Disciplinary Panel comments from that hearing within their reasoning of sanction in full noting: the present referral now marks the third time in which Mr Allan has been referred three times within the five-year reference period, and this current case is even more serious as this is in fact the 4th referral within less than the relevant five-year period.”

The BHA recommended that Allan undergo a period of retraining as part of his sentence.

Spearing said: “Whilst I have no power to direct any further conditions upon licence of Mr Allan, in my view it would be prudent to ensure that Mr Allan is both safe and competent to continue to resume his professional racing activities following the suspension period.

“It shall be obvious that any further breaches and referral shall require extremely close scrutiny by the disciplinary process.”

Allan was suspended for 42 days, with nine days deferred for a six-month period, or 200 rides whichever comes first. Two of these days should be spent receiving specialist coaching. If he reoffends within the next six-month period or before 200 rides, he shall be required to serve those nine days.