COMMENT

THE escalating war of words between racing professionals and those who administer the sport following the four-mile National Hunt Chase on Cheltenham needs to be nipped in the bud and the sooner the better.

The situation improved to a degree when Declan Lavery, third on Jerrysback, had his 10-day suspension overturned on appeal at a three-man BHA tribunal on Thursday.

A magnificent festival - admittedly with its occasional moments of acute sadness - must not prove the springboard for lasting damage to a sport loved by thousands of people.

Nor must it provide more ammunition for those who either care little for its future or actively seek to do it down. It is important to remember that a cynical press (with many honourable exceptions) is more than happy to fan the flames. ‘Is the Festival’s future on the line?’ was one headline last week.

What exactly happened in the National Hunt Chase? Eighteen lined up and only four finished. There were eight fallers, which is worrying, five were pulled up and one unseated the rider. The race was run on genuinely soft ground and the pace was generous.

Under these circumstances, there will be casualties. Six of the eight fallers came down well into the second half of the contest, which suggests tiredness may have been a factor. Ballyward fell and lost his life at the 17th, where others suffered interference.

GRIM PICTURE

Almost anyone could paint a pretty grim picture of events, which is not the intention here.

However, this correspondent has long felt that the breed is not as strong as it once was and marathon races soon sort out those with stamina limitations. How many Welsh Nationals have there been in recent years where only three or four turned for home with a realistic chance of winning? And the Welsh National is two furlongs shorter than the NH Chase.

Were the (mostly very experienced) amateurs in the latter contest guilty of keeping on longer than their professional counterparts? A moot point, though the stewards on the day thought Lavery should have pulled up two out instead of continuing.

The successful appeal placated prominent trainers but it should not be overlooked that the 19-ban incurred by Rob James on Just Your Type ‘for continuing in the race when it appeared to be contrary to the horse’s welfare’ remains in place and James - one of the other two riders stood down - did not consider an appeal.

His punishment included a seven-day whip ban and the spectacle on the run-in, had Just Your Type not fallen at the last, might have given even graver cause for concern.

Philip Hobbs supported Lavery at the appeal and felt the original decision was wrong but other trainers went further than that, suggesting that the officials - and by implication the BHA itself - did not comprehend the nature of all-out competition and its fiercer aspects

Whether querying the capabilities of chief regulatory officer Brant Dunshea because he happens to be Australian was a good idea is open to question and certainly did nothing to bring the two camps together. And with the greatest respect, telling people to watch Peppa Pig if they don’t like what they see on the racecourse isn’t much use either.

The BHA is mindful of animal rights organisations, it’s mindful of the role played by a sometimes hypocritical press, and it’s mindful of any political move, general apathy in Westminster notwithstanding, to strip the sport of the right to regulate itself.

The war of words achieved precisely nothing. Is the Festival’s future on the line? No, of course it isn’t.

But let’s make absolutely sure of that by sitting down together and engaging in constructive conversation.

Thursday’s decision is a step in the right direction and should act as a soothing balm before matters drift well beyond control.