Norman Williamson will miss the first day of the Martell Grand National meeting after being banned for 10 days for a whip offence.
Williamson was found to be in breach of the whip guidelines when hitting Direct Route in the wrong place, across the ribs, when short-headed by Edredon Bleu in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham last Wednesday.
His suspension, which begins on Friday and covers days when jump racing takes place, was imposed by the Jockey Club after his riding had been referred to Portman Square by the Cheltenham stewards.
A philosophical Williamson said: 'Obviously it is disappointing to miss the first day of Liverpool but there's nothing you can do.
'I hit the horse in the wrong place and I can't do it. That's it. We all can't.'
He said that at the time he had been unaware he was hitting Direct Route in the wrong place.
He said: 'You don't think of things like that. Tony McCoy had the same problem last year and he'd be the first one to admit it.
'It was one of the greatest races ever, so it was sad that I came out of with a ban but there you go.'
