FORMER Grand National winner Richard Guest has been banned from riding in this year's race at Aintree on Saturday.

He partnered Red Marauder to victory in 2001, and took out his trainer's licence last spring.

This weekend, he will saddle both Red Striker and Tyneandthyneagain in the big race.

Guest, who is based at Brancepeth, County Dur-ham, had been hoping to ride Red Striker.

But he was informed by the Jockey Club last night that he will be barred from doing so.

The racing authorities do not want Guest riding against another horse from his own stable, despite him doing exactly the same in last year's race.

The Jockey Club's rules are not clear on the issue and Guest had applied for special dispensation to allow him to partner 66-1 outsider Red Striker.

But, after receiving letters of complaint last year, the authorities have acted to remove any possibility of a conflict of interest.

"The Racehorse Owners' Association expressed some concern after Richard rode in last year's race," said a Jockey Club spokesman. "And I have to say that we thought they were entitled to have those concerns.

"Consequently our position has shifted since last year. We want to ensure that there is no possibility of the public having any concerns.

"We will be bringing in new laws to clarify the situation later this year and Richard's application has been rejected in accordance with what those new laws will be."

Guest is bitterly disappointed at being unable to return to the saddle on Saturday.

"Riding in the National is the only reason why I got my jockey's licence out again," he said. "I was looking forward to it.

"I think the Jockey Club was actually pretty keen to let me ride. But certain bodies have voiced their disapproval and that's influenced the outcome."