Jockey Toby McCain-Mitchell has been given a 32-day suspension due to multiple breaches of whip rules.
The breaches occurred within the last six months.
Aintree Incident Leads to Suspension
The 24-year-old McCain-Mitchell used the whip twice above the permitted level at Aintree last month. He was riding Melon in the 2m½f conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle.
Melon initially finished second past the post. However, Laafi, the first past the post, was disqualified after his rider, Patrick O’Brien, used his whip four times more than allowed.
Melon was then promoted to winner following the disqualification.
Multiple Whip Offences
This breach was McCain-Mitchell’s fourth in the last four months. The BHA proposed a suspended penalty.
Nine days of the penalty are suspended for 150 rides or six months, whichever comes first. This part of the penalty will only be implemented if another whip offence occurs.
Adjudicating panel member Tim Grey considered whether the fast-track procedure was appropriate. He cited “a case of such seriousness” and “the equine welfare issues it raises”.
Grey stated that he was satisfied that the proposed agreed course was the right one.
Suspension Dates
McCain-Mitchell will be suspended on the following dates:
- May 16, 17, 19, 20, 22-25, 27, 28, 30, 31
- June 2-4, 6, 7, 9-13 and 16.
McCain-Mitchell has already been serving a ten-day suspension. This was for his ride on Top Of The Bill in the Grand National at Aintree.
The incident with Top Of The Bill occurred the day after Melon’s race. He was deemed to have failed to pull the horse up when tailed off prior to a fall at the final fence.
Background
McCain-Mitchell had a personal-best season in 2025-26. He ended the campaign with 34 winners and £464,110 in total prize-money.
McCain-Mitchell is the grandson of the late Ginger McCain, who trained Red Rum to win the Grand National three times.
Another jockey was banned for 28 days after going four strikes over the whip limit in a separate Aintree race.