New rules could whip up a storm

Go to dailymail.co.uk/sport at 9am daily as Lizzie Kelly and Sam Turner try to find the big race winners and debate each day of the Festival

RACING is braced for controversy surrounding the use of the whip over the next four days, as new tighter regulations are tested on a major racing stage for the first time.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) have faced criticism for introducing the rules — which allow a horse to be disqualified if a jockey uses the whip four times or more over the permitted seven in a jumps race — on the eve of the Festival. Since the new rules, which include harsher suspensions, were implemented on February 13, two horses which finished second have been disqualified. The big question this week is how jockeys will react when the stakes are higher at Cheltenham. British jockeys have had a short time to get used to the rules, including a bedding-in period when they were informed of what punishments they would have received, but most Irish riders will be operating under the rules for the first time. Any potential disqualification would not be announced on the day, though, with all bets settled on the result. A disqualification decision, along with all assessment of potential Festival whip-rule breaches, will be made by The Whip Review Committee, who will meet on the Tuesday after the meeting.

A BHA spokesman said: ‘We e have worked closely with jockeys before, during and d since an extended bedding-in g-in period to ensure they were e able to adapt to the rules and has also visited Ireland to meet with jockeys there and nd explain what will be expected cted of them. The jockeys will also lso be briefed before racing each ach day. We have seen jockeys adapting their styles to stay ay within the rules and we have ve every confidence that they y will endeavour to abide by y the rules.’