Apprentice jockey Ben Knobel still has plenty to learn about being a top level rider and now he’ll have three weeks to have a good think about it.

He’s been suspended for three weeks after pleading guilty to a handling charge resulting from a race earlier in the month.

The charge came after Knobel failed to use all reasonable and allowable measures available to him to give Glacier King the best chance of winning his race.

He ended up finishing fifth in the JP Lult Smith 3yo Maiden in Geelong for trainer Peter White.

The inquiry which finished taking evidence on Monday heard reports from Knobel, Mick Price and the Victorian Jockey Association Chief Des O’Keefe.

Written submissions were also received from Tony Noonan, Greg Childs and Racing Victoria’s Jockey welfare and safety officer Ron Hall.

Peter White also gave evidence in Geelong with Knobel’s representative Andrew Mallyon.

In their verdict stewards found that with 130m left in the race Knobel did not utilise sufficient  effort to improve his racing position between Forced Salute and Toolachee when the opportunity was available to him.

Knobel will be eligible to ride again in late April.