Racing: Carberry confused

PAUL CARBERRY may have forfeited his chance of landing the Irish Jockeys' Championship after picking up a 10-day ban at Naas yesterday. Riding Sallie's Girl for Noel Meade in a pounds 20,000 novices' hurdle, Carberry became "confused" and, expecting to go round for another circuit, passed the winning post standing up in his stirrups. The pair were beaten only three-quarters of a length by Glazeaway.

As the winner pulled up, Carberry started to head out for another circuit only to realise his mistake and return, shaken, to the winners' enclosure. The stewards called the jockey in for "having appeared to make no effort" and after hearing his apology, banned him for 10 days.

Ruby Walsh - on the 55-winner mark this term - should now be able to extend the margin of three he holds over Carberry to put the championship beyond his rival's grasp.

On Saturday, Carberry will ride Advocat, the favourite, for Meade in the Ladbroke Hurdle at Leopardstown. "I would say Advocat is the first string as he runs well in these type of races - he was second in the County Hurdle," Meade said yesterday.