Quinn ready to accept his Punishment ban

Richard Quinn is unlikely to appeal against the three-day ban meted out by the Epsom stewards for dropping his hands on Punishment behind Swain in the Coronation Cup, thus losing third place to De Quest by a short-head. The error cost Punishment's owner, Tony Richards, pounds 9,000 in place prize-money. The ban rules Quinn out of Royal Ascot's first two days and several fancied rides.

The Derby-winning jockey, Michael Hills, and runner-up, Pat Eddery, escaped punishment after being questioned about their use of the whip in the big race. A repeat of last month's controversial 2,000 Guineas, when the riders of the first three horses home were punished for misuse of the whip, looked likely, but more than two hours after the race before the stewards decided that Hills and Eddery had not contravened the rules.

The stewards also investigated Henry Cecil's erroneous declaration of Richard Hughes, who was also booked to ride in Ireland, as the jockey of Clever Cliche in the Derby and decided to refer the matter to Portman Square. Cecil escaped a fine for withdrawing Clever Cliche on the morning of the race as ground conditions had changed.