A cold blast of reality has hit the fun-loving lifestyle of Paul Carberry, writes Brian O'Connor, Racing Correspondent.
Racing's history is littered with colourful characters who believed in burning both ends of the candle but even by the exuberant standards of the jockeys' room, Paul Carberry has always stood out as a true original.
Not for him the remorseless pursuit of the next winner in the rather sombre manner of Tony McCoy or Ruby Walsh.
Instead, there has been a dogged refusal to let the demands of his trade interfere with the pursuit of a good time.
The stories of Carberry's ability to enjoy himself are legendary, and some of them are even printable.
Not many jockeys have had to stand themselves down from race-riding because they have been attacked by a stag, but Carberry, who loves hunting, managed it two years ago when he was gored in the stomach.
The remarkable bit though was that most people within the sport were only marginally surprised when they heard who was involved. In that regard the 32-year-old former champion jockey is almost an indulged figure.
The general view has always been that he might be as mad as a brush but there is no malice in him and if there has been harm to anyone it has usually been to himself.
Yesterday's decision by the District Court puts a very different gloss on the matter, though.
What has never been in dispute though is Carberry's talent. Conor O'Dwyer, a veteran of the jockeys' room, unhesitatingly describes him as the greatest natural talent he has witnessed. It's impossible to make riding a horse over fences look easy but Carberry almost brings it off.
That natural talent allowed him to make an immediate mark on the sport in which his father, Tommy, was a Gold Cup and Grand National-winning legend.
There was never a question of the son being overawed by the father's legacy.
In fact, flat racing was too boring for Carberry jnr and it wasn't long before he was being hailed as one of the top jump jockeys anywhere in the world.
Father and son combined for their biggest triumph when Bobbyjo won the 1999 Aintree Grand National and Carberry's alliance with trainer Noel Meade yielded two jockeys titles in 2001-02 and 2004-05.
Along with the likes of Walsh and Barry Geraghty, he is part of a vintage crop of Irish riding talent.
But so much natural talent has also allowed Carberry to prosper in a hard game without appearing to have to devote all his energies to it.
A famous thrill-seeker, he has in the past stated that he can sometimes get bored with steeplechasing and riding over hurdles and that his great love is hunting. Such statements fit perfectly with his fun-loving attitude to life but that natural exuberance now appears to have taken him beyond the mark.
For a man who can relish the idea of clearing Becher's Brook at speed, Carberry's greatest challenge now will be how he reacts to this cold blast of reality.
The Turf Club has confirmed that Paul Carberry will still be able to ride in races until his appeal is heard.
Turf Club rules state: "Any person . . . who has been convicted of any criminal offence prejudicial to racing in this country or any other country may be declared by the Stewards of the Governing Bodies a disqualified person and shall remain so until the disqualification is removed."
A spokesman said: "Carberry can continue to ride once the appeal has been lodged. The situation will be examined further after the appeal."