SCOTT: AMATEUR RACE ISN’T ACCEPTABLE

VETERAN broadcaster and former jockey Brough Scott has insisted the BHA review the National Hunt Chase for amateur jockeys after only four of 18 starters finished Tuesday’s race. The BHA said it was ‘extremely disappointed’ by some of the conduct in the race, after which three riders received immediate suspensions and one horse was put down following a fall. Jockeys Noel McParlan and Declan Lavery were suspended for eight days and 10 days respectively for continuing in the race on tired mounts, ‘contrary to the horse’s welfare’, while Robert James was suspended for seven days for his use of the whip. A delayed enquiry into the ride of fellow amateur rider Damien Skehan will be held today. ITV pundit Scott feels the time has come for significant changes, describing the race as an ‘upsetting sight’. He told Racemail: ‘The question of putting inexperienced horses with amateurs, and 18 of them, round here is something I don’t think is acceptable. ‘There has been a question mark on it for some time. When they did a review they had it open to question. ‘They chose not to do something about it but I would be very surprised and deeply disappointed if they don’t change the conditions again.’ But 20-time champion jockey Sir AP

McCoy was heavily critical of the BHA’s decision to hand out suspensions, saying it was an ‘embarrassment’. ‘I have never seen as bad a decision in 25 years in racing,’ he said. ‘Talk about bringing racing into disrepute... it’s undefendable.’ The BHA review into the seven equine fatalities at the 2018 Festival said there were questions over the ‘appropriateness of staging amateur riders’ races at the Festival’. A BHA spokesman said: ‘It is fair to say that we are extremely disappointed by the conduct of a small number of riders in the National Hunt Chase.’ RSPCA equine consultant David Muir was another to call for a review of the race.