After no respite in London yesterday, Jamie Spencer’s hopes of riding in the Epsom classics rest entirely with the French stewards. The jockey must gain concessions from his appeal against two bans, totalling ten days, that he picked up in the French 2,000 Guineas on Sunday.

Spencer’s appeal against a suspension he incurred at Ascot last week came to nothing yesterday morning. He is therefore idle on Wednesday and Thursday of next week. With the French ban expected to kick in after that, Spencer will be out of action until June 4 unless he is at least partially successful in Paris next week.

The jockey learnt yesterday that he cannot defer any part of the French ban, as would have been the case in Britain. No date has yet been set for the hearing.

It has not been a happy week for Spencer, whose spells on the sidelines last season cost him his chance in the jockeys’ championship. His last ride at York on Wednesday brought another one-day ban – and he incurred the same sanction in the opener yesterday aboard Hogmaneigh.

At Newbury today, Frankie Dettori rides Measured Tempo for Godolphin in the Swetten-ham Stud Fillies’ Trial ahead of a possible tilt at the Oaks. At the same venue, Peeress and Jeremy represent Sir Michael Stoute in tomorrow’s Judd-monte Lockinge Stakes.