“Aa collective of jockeys, we’re all together,” Nico de Boinville said after winning the first race on Friday, a clear sign that, despite general delight that the card had beaten the frost, there is a storm brewing ahead of the introduction of new whip rules by the British Horseracing Authority in the run-up to Cheltenham’s Festival meeting in March.
De Boinville was echoing the view of Harry Cobden, the No 1 jockey to Paul Nicholls, the champion trainer, who described the new rules as “bloody ridiculous” after riding a winner at Taunton on Thursday. Under the new regime, riders will be banned from using their whips in the forehand position – the most natural way for a majority of riders to use their stick – and while there will be a four-week “bedding-in” period before penalties are imposed. enforced, a single use in the forehand position after 6 February could lead to a seven-day ban, or two weeks if it occurs in a Class 1 or Class 2 event.
The scale of the change that jockeys are being asked to make to their riding style was evident in the third race, as Lilly Pinchin got Dame Du Soir home by a neck in front of the 4-1 favourite, Marta Des Mottes. It was an excellent ride, and while Pinchin used the whip four times in the forehand position, Dame Du Soir responded all the way to the line. In less than two months’ time, however, the same ride would see her banned for at least a fortnight.
“I do, massively,” Pinchin said, when asked if she shared Cobden and De Boinville’s concerns. “We’ve got jockeys coming over from Ireland, where that rule isn’t in place, and we’ve got the Festival coming up. Looking at the way jockeys are using their sticks now, it could become a bit of a factor. For me, I feel like there’s no issue with it [the whip], I can see why the public don’t like it but for us jockeys, riding the horses, it’s how we’ve always used it. Maybe it needs to be looked at before it’s put into place.”
Harry Skelton, the champion over jumps in 2020-21, had no need to reach for the whip in an easy win on Hidden Heroics, but also also raised concerns about the scale and timing of the changes. “This is something we’ve been doing for a long time, so to adapt as quickly as we’re being asked could be an issue,” Skelton stated. “We need to cut back bans, however confidently we will be able to have the foundations company and truthful.
“I believe the timing is indisputably an issue for the Irish jockeys and for amateurs that experience had no bedding-in length. I believe now issues are being put into apply at the route, it is a realization for numerous jockeys what’s in reality coming. It’s all rather well on paper however till it is put into apply, you by no means truly know.”
No one wants to see the Festival meeting in March dominated by whip controversies, but Ian Renton, Cheltenham’s managing director, said on Friday that the track had no issue with the timing of the new regime’s introduction. “It’s a BHA determination and the timings are as much as them,” Renton said. “The BHA obviously considers all these things in coming to their decision and that’s where we are. We accept the decision and the timing.”
A spokesperson for the British Horseracing Authority stated on Friday that the Authority “undertook intensive technical discussions following the e-newsletter of the suggestions previous this yr by way of the [Whip] Steering Group, which itself integrated the 2 main, present jockeys [Tom Scudamore and PJ McDonald],
“We acknowledge the significance of running with jockeys, which is why we’ve engaged with them and their representatives to verify they perceive the adjustments being introduced in via verbal exchange and schooling. We can be satisfied to proceed with such engagement previous to the implementation of the brand new regulations and consequences, and all the way through the respective bedding-in sessions for each codes.”
The Professsional Jockeys’ Association was once contacted however had no longer spoke back to the Guardian’s request for remark on the time of going to press.
Stolen Silver can lift the Cup
Nine of the last 18 winners of the December Gold Cup Chase at Cheltenham, including five of the last six, had run in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at the track’s November meeting, so it may pay to focus on the five horses in Saturday’s 16- Strong renewal with that near-essential combination of track and big-field experience just four weeks ago.
Five of the nine had finished second, third or fourth in the Paddy Power, and Il Ridoto, the likely favorite, is the only runner that made the frame last month in the field on Saturday. He has yet to prove himself fully effective on this trip, however, and the December Gold Cup is on the new course, over an additional 80 yards.
Deyrann De Carjac, who was a length behind Il Ridoto in fifth, is another possibility but is a tricky horse to win with, so Stolen Silver (1.50) appeals as the best bet at the most likely prices.
Sam Thomas’s runner was backed down to start favorite for the Paddy Power and still had plenty of running left when he unseated Sam Twiston-Davies at the third last. He can run off the same mark on Saturday, which was in turn a modest 7lb rise for an 11-length win over track and trip in April, and 6-1 looks too big for him to add another Cheltenham success to his record.
Doncaster 1.30: A tough race to assess with the two principals according to the betting – Nusret and Scriptwriter – also declared for the juvenile hurdle at Cheltenham, but both seem more likely runners in Gloucestershire and Trojan Horse, impressive themselves in a 10-length win at Fontwell last month , would be the main beneficiary.
Cheltenham 2.25: Epatante has been an outstanding servant to connections but the former Champion Hurdle winner will be nine in three weeks’ time and the up-and-coming I Like To Move Itan impressive front-running winner of the Greatwood Hurdle last month in a strong time, could be a little too much for her to handle.
Doncaster 2.40: A 12-month layoff could not prevent Héroique De Maulde running the useful Hidden Commander to a short-head on his debut over British fences last month, and his rivals – including a next-time winner in fifth – were 11 lengths and more adrift. Even slight improvement in that run will make him very difficult to beat.
Cheltenham 3.00: We’ve all been caught was pitched straight into Grade Two company for his hurdles debut here last month and finished a highly-promising third while shaping too as if this step up to three miles will see significant improvement.
Doncaster 3.15: The Milton Harris string is in excellent form – a 31% strike rate from 16 runners over last fortnight – and first-time cheekpieces may coax the improvement required from Gavroche D’Allier,
Cheltenham 3.35: Theater Glory unseated her jockey on the fourth on her go back to motion at Newbury however has misplaced most effective as soon as in six finished begins over bushes and will lengthen that advantageous report off what nonetheless seems an excessively workable mark.