THE British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has confirmed the scope of the review of welfare at Cheltenham racecourse and the Cheltenham Festival.

The review will look at the circumstances surrounding the six equine fatalities and other long-term injuries sustained at the Cheltenham Festival, and more generally at the racecourse’s other fixtures, before publishing recommendations.

The areas of focus will be the obstacles, starts, safety factors and race tempo, programming and race conditions, and veterinary aspects.

The review is expected to be concluded this summer, allowing sufficient time for recommendations to be implemented ahead of the 2018/’19 jumps season.

The BHA also recently announced that it would be examining whether the existing penalties for misuse of the whip, and how they apply, constitute an adequate deterrent to jockeys. This topic will be discussed by the BHA board before the scope and timing of this project is finalised.