Gold Cup-winning rider Sam Waley-Cohen left Taunton in frustration yesterday after picking up his third suspension in less than a month.

As Waley-Cohen is an amateur, he can only be banned on days where there is a race staged in that category.

But he had already amassed a total of 15 days to serve during January and February, with a dozen of those coming about when he rode a finish a circuit too early at Fakenham.

He was also given three days for allowing Long Run, owned by his father, Robert, who lives at Edgehill, near Banbury, to hang in on the bend entering the second circuit of the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

And he received another three days after finishing second on Time For Spring, from Charlie Longsdon’s Chipping Norton yard, behind Made In Time in the novices’ limited handicap chase over two miles and an extended seven furlongs at the Somerset track.

The stewards found he had used his whip without giving his mount time to respond approaching the second-last fence, and suspended him for February 16, 17 and 19.

The 29-year-old was reluctant to speak to reporters, and said: “I’m not sure if I’ll appeal and I really don’t want to comment at the moment.”

DOUBLE Handful struck on his first start for Aston Rowant trainer Lawney Hill when landing the handicap hurdle over two miles and a furlong at Taunton.