Racing: Dettori switches on lights but shock to follow

Frankie Dettori will have two trips to London's West End this week. Tonight he will switch on the Christmas lights in Regent Street but on Thursday the visit to Jockey Club headquarters at Portman Square promises to be less pleasurable.

Dettori will appear before the Jockey Club's disciplinary committee following a referral for careless riding by the Newmarket stewards last month.

The jockeywas found guilty of the offence when partnering Baajil on 31 October and he was automatically referred to Portman Square under the totting-up system.

Dettori faces a minimum 14-day ban with the likelihood of a suspended sentence, deferred for up to six months, on top of that. Furthermore, because it is known that he has no intention of riding on the all-weather circuit in Britain this winter, the disciplinary committee may take the option of deferring any suspension until it has some effect on the dual champion's racecourse opportunities.

John Maxse, spokesman for the Jockey Club, said yesterday: "I have no idea what the committee will choose to do but I am certain they would not want any suspension to be a hollow one."