ONE of the most perplexing decisions I have come across in racing in recent years was made this week by the British Horseracing Authority. It concerned the fact that they made a decision not to proceed with a decision they had made previously. Confused? I am too.

Next week, on February 1st, a new rule was due to come into effect, requiring all National Hunt runners to race fully shod. The decision to introduce the rule followed a two-year process of consultation with bodies such as the National Trainers Federation and the Professional Jockeys Association. It also involved the evaluation of a myriad of data.