Jockey Tom Bellamy fails breath test at Cheltenham

Tom Bellamy was suspended from riding at Cheltenham on New Year's Day after failing a breath test.

The rider was due to partner three rides, including Splash Of Ginge in the BetBright Best For Festival Betting Handicap Chase, but he has now been referred to the British Horseracing Authority.

The official stewards' report read: "The sampling officer reported that Tom Bellamy provided a sample which was found to contain alcohol above the threshold level for breath samples.

"The rider, the clerk of the scales and the sampling officer were interviewed. The matter was referred to the head office of the British Horseracing Authority and Bellamy was suspended from riding for the rest of the day."

Bellamy is attached to the yard of Nigel Twiston-Davies, who said: "I am just devastated for him. He is a big lad, he just had a couple of drinks.

"His last drink was before 12 last night and he was unlucky. If you are a big boy and you can't eat, your body can't absorb it. He is killing himself.

"These things happen, and it shouldn't have happened, but he is just unlucky. I definitely don't blame him."

The threshold in the A sample for jockeys is at or above 54 milligrams per 100 millilitres in urine or 17 micrograms per 100 millilitres in breath.

The national drink driving limit is 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath.