Champion jumps jockey Tony McCoy has been banned for five days for striking a horse about 50 times in two minutes before a big race at Cheltenham.

The episode, seen live by television viewers, unfolded as McCoy tried to persuade a horse called Deano's Beeno to start with the others.

Deano's Beeno, a talented but moody gelding, turned 12 on Thursday and is known as one of the most difficult rides in British racing.

At the start of Wednesday's race, McCoy struck him down the shoulders and on the hindquarters. The horse eventually consented to start, but the stewards found McCoy's actions unacceptable and declared him guilty of "improper riding".

In the race itself, McCoy had to work hard to keep Deano's Beeno interested. Turning into the straight, the 9-2 third favourite still had a chance but eventually faded to finish fourth of the six runners, beaten by 12 lengths.

McCoy told the Racing Post: "I am not being smart but there's nothing I can say, what was I supposed to do?"

Former champion jockey John Francome jumped to the Irishman's defence, saying: "He did not hurt the horse and did brilliantly to get it going and coerce and cajole it along."

Observers pointed out that punters who backed Deano's Beeno and those who follow the champion jockey regularly would have been disappointed if they had not even got a run for their money.

The horse has won 13 races, seven times with McCoy on board, in a career dating back to 1994.