Champion amateur Patrick Mullins was given a hefty six day ban by the stewards at Naas yesterday for using his whip with excessive frequency without giving a chance to respond.

Mullins' mount Ceol Rua and the Nina Carberry-ridden Sugar Bullet were involved in a driving finish to the bumper, with the latter prevailing by a head and surviving a subsequent stewards enquiry into possible interference in the closing stages.

However Mullins' use of the whip didn't impress the stewards, who took into consideration his previous record which included suspensions this year at Leopardstown and twice at Wexford.

He was also instructed to attend RACE for one day's tuition on the use of the whip.