Dylan Kitts' ride on Hillsin at Worcester on Wednesday has been referred to the BHA for further investigation.

The Chris Honour-trained Hillsin was suspended from racing for 40 days by the stewards present at the racecourse.

A general 2/1 favourite on Tuesday night, the horse drifted in the betting prior to the race and was sent off at 11/1.

Hillsin appeared to be travelling easily under conditional jockey Dylan Kitts as the pair landed over the third-last hurdle and he continued to make headway approaching the last. Kitts remained motionless on the five-year-old and the horse finished strongly to finish third.

The steward's report said: "The rider and the trainer were interviewed and shown recordings of the race. The rider stated his instructions were to drop Hillsin out early, keep a good hold of the horse's head and take his time, before mounting a late challenge.

"Kitts explained that the gelding settled well and found a nice jumping rhythm, and he had been able to make ground easily mid-race when the pace steadied up. However, Hillsin made a respiratory noise towards the end of the back straight, which continued on several more occasions throughout the race, and the gelding had also hung badly right-handed, which restricted his ability to be more vigorous in the home straight.

"The trainer confirmed the instructions and that Hillsin had been ridden in accordance with them, however, whilst acknowledging the gelding had hung right-handed, he did express concerns over the manner in which Hillsin was ridden specifically from jumping the last hurdle.

"Honour also reiterated that he had emphasised to the rider that Hillsin needed to be held together for as long as possible based on his analysis of the gelding's run at Exeter two starts back, where he didn't get home for a different yard."

Kitts was the recipient of a 14-day 'non-trier' ban for his ride on Jet Of Dreams at Warwick on 13 May for trainer Warren Greatrex.

It was Hillsin's first start for trainer Chris Honour, having previously been stabled with Claire Harris.

"Honour also reiterated that he had emphasised to the rider that Hillsin needed to be held together for as long as possible based on his analysis of the gelding's run at Exeter two starts back, where he didn't get home for a different yard."

Kitts was the recipient of a 14-day 'non-trier' ban for his ride on Jet Of Dreams at Warwick on 13 May for trainer Warren Greatrex.

It was Hillsin's first start for trainer Chris Honour, having previously been stabled with Claire Harris.