THE Turf Club is set to tighten the rules on the declaration of reserves next week with a number of changes made to different sections of Rule 194.

Starting next week, all declaration of non-runners and reserves must be made to the Turf Club non-runner line no later than one and a half hours before the first race. Trainers with reserves will then be able to check non-runners on the Turf Club website, which will be published in real time, and plan accordingly.

This means that cards will close one and a half hours before the first race on the card as trainers will have to declare non-runners and reserves by then. Previously this was done one hour before the first race on the card. The only way of making a withdrawal, after the card closes, will be at the scales.

There is now an obligation for trainers to declare reserves either to run or as non-runners, where previously there was only an obligation to declare them as runners. Riders for reserves must also be declared to the Turf Club an hour and a half before the first race. If not, the reserve runner will automatically be a non-runner.

There is also a change to the part of the rule which regards declaration of headgear and tongue ties where, if trainers make an error in declaring either piece of equipment, they can correct it on payment of a €200 fine and as long as they notify Horse Racing Ireland before noon on the day of declaration.