Jockey James Bowen won’t compete at this year’s Cheltenham Festival after being hit with a whip ban.

Bowen was a fancied jockey heading into the week-long meet and was a leading candidate for the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

But his hopes of leaving a mark on the Cheltenham Festival were dealt a fatal blow after it was adjudged he used the whip twice above the allowed level when approaching the home bend in the 2m3f chase at Leicester last Sunday.

As a result, the authorities have slapped Bowen with a seven-day ban, which begins on the opening day of next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

Jockeys do have the option of moving the suspension back to 14 days from the initial date of the incident, however, as Bowen is already suspended for that time, he isn’t allowed.

Bowen rides for trainer Nicky Henderson, who reacting to the ban labelled the jockey “unfortunate” for receiving a “brutal” punishment.

He stated: "It's very unfortunate. He's flying along and I feel very sorry for him and a bit sorry for ourselves. It's brutal.

“There's nothing one can do, it's the rules. He bent them a bit and there's no flexibility or leniency – and I'm not saying there should be. I haven't had a chance to look at it but he would have had a lot of rides. Having a jockey on board who knows the horse means a lot."

Bowen has enjoyed a stellar season, riding 68 winners so far - a tally just six short of his personal best with two months of the campaign to race.

The 23-year-old hasn’t won a race at the Cheltenham Festival but does sit sixth in the jump jockeys' championship.

Elsewhere in the build-up to the 2025 meeting, one of Willie Mullins’ leading hopes for the festival has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.

Kawaboomga, who is owned by owned by billionaire JP McManus, was expected to attract plenty of punters for the Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle.

Commenting on the withdrawal, Frank Berry, McManus’s racing manager, said: “Unfortunately Kawaboomga has had a setback and will miss the rest of the season.

“He’s a grand, big horse and it’s disappointing, but hopefully all being well we’ll have him back for the autumn.”

Racing at Cheltenham gets underway on Tuesday, March 11 and runs right the way through to Friday of the same week.