A jockey who competed at the Cheltenham Festival has been banned and fined over a rule breach during the Grand Annual Chase. Charlie Deutsch won the race aboard Martator, trained by Venetia Williams and owned by Camilla Norton, on Wednesday. He held on to take a narrow victory by a short head from last year's winner, Jazzy Matty.

However, a post-race investigation found that Deutsch had used his whip on nine occasions, two more than what is allowed by the rules, from the final fence to the finish line. His seven-day ban has been doubled to 14 days due to the class of the race. Deutsch has also been fined £1,550 by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

It means that he will miss the first two days of the Grand National Festival, which takes place next month. Two other jockeys received suspensions for whip offences on the opening two days of the Cheltenham Festival.

Conor Stone-Walsh, who won the Cross Country Chase riding Final Orders, has been suspended for eight days for using his whip once above the permitted level when finishing third in the Grand Annual Chase on Break My Soul.

Caoilin Quinn was punished for the same offence in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, where he came third on Salver. However, his ban was reduced from eight days to four days because he had completed over 150 rides in the UK since his last whip breach.

It comes just days after two jockeys were banned for careless riding at the Cheltenham Festival, with their offences taking place at the start of day four.

Harry Skelton, who has over 1,000 wins in the saddle, was riding Maestro Conti and placed first in the Triumph Hurdle. Patrick Mullins, the son of legendary trainer Willie Mullins, rode Apolon De Charnie to second place.

A review by the stewards after the race had concluded deemed both jockeys to have interfered with other horses and jockeys. Skelton was punished with a three-day ban, while Mullins was given a two-day suspension.

A statement from the stewards read: "An enquiry was held to consider interference approaching the final fence involving MAESTRO CONTI (FR), placed second, ridden by Harry Skelton, and SELMA DE VARY (FR), placed fourth, ridden by P Townend.

"Skelton was suspended for two days for careless riding for allowing his mount to drift right-handed when insufficiently clear resulting SELMA DE VARY (FR) being tightened against the rail with Townend having to switch his mount.

"An enquiry was held to consider interference in the final half furlong involving the winner, APOLON DE CHARNIE (RE), ridden by Mr P W Mullins, and MINELLA STUDY, placed third, ridden by Ryan Mania.

"Mullins was suspended for two days for careless riding for allowing his mount to move right-handed under a left-hand drive for a number of strides without correction, taking MINELLA STUDY off its intended line."

Elsewhere, champion flat jockey Oisin Murphy has been banned for five days after triggering a deferred penalty he initially received in November. He used his whip once above the permitted level while riding Caliban to victory at Southwell earlier this week.