Jockey banned after failing drugs test

Cook, who rides predominantly for Brian Ellison and Sue Smith, has not ridden since he was informed by the BHA last month that he had failed a drugs test.

A Cheltenham Festival winner five years ago on Great Endeavour, Cook tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, at Musselburgh on February 1.

Cook was told of his penalty at a disciplinary hearing this morning.

BHA spokesman Robin Mounsey confirmed: “Danny has been banned for six months.

“The ban will be backdated to when Danny stopped riding, (which was) February 24.”