Gordon Elliott has become the latest trainer to voice his concerns over new whip rules describing the potential consequences ahead of the major jump festivals as "frightening".
New regulations are due to come into effect on 13th February and they include a reduction in the amount of times a whip can be used and a beefing up of the penalty system. The very worst whip offences could result in a disqualification for the horse and a riding ban for the jockey, up to 20 days. This could be doubled in Class 1 and 2 races. A soft launch has been in place since 9th January.
Both Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins have already aired their dissatisfaction with the new rules and have called for a pushing back of the implementation date. Many senior jockeys on both sides of the Irish Sea have also voiced their concerns.
Elliott said: “It’s frightening. To think it’s coming in only a couple of weeks before a massive festival, it’s frightening.
“Listening to Sean Bowen and a few of the lads in England, they’re kind of having to change their style of riding altogether. I don’t think it’s good, especially heading into Cheltenham.
“Someone was saying Davy Russell would have broken a rule riding Mighty Potter the other day and I’m not sure if he hit him more than two or three (times), but it was because his hand rose a certain height.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
He continued, Obviously the jockeys are all going to have to do a lot of work on it, but it’s not really healthy going into Cheltenham.
“We could be short of riders for the Grand National! It’s frightening if you think four or five jockeys got suspended.”
During the first week of the 'soft launch' introduction of the new rules there were 44 referrals to the whip review committee. They will be responsible for handing out punishments under the new system. The number of referrals since has not yet been confirmed.
Last week the British Horseracing Authority announced they would review the manner in which the rules and guidance are being applied” by those in charge at race events but there are no plans to alter any of the new rules.
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