JOCKEYS at Leopardstown this weekend will have the opportunity to discuss the new whip rules in British racing with officials from the British Horseracing Authority.

The new rules come into force for British jump racing on Monday week, February 13th, and for the flat from March 27th. The main changes are cutting the permitted use of the whip to six and seven strikes in flat and jump races respectively, while also toughening up the penalty structure.

Under the revised rules, a jump jockey who uses their whip 12 or more times – with 11 strikes or more for flat jockeys – in any race could be disqualified. In major races, as well as being disqualified, the jockey could also receive a 28-day ban.

Originally the intention was to ban the use of the whip in the forehand position but that has been scrapped. However, using the whip above shoulder height will be an offence and this is causing a significant problem for some British-based jockeys.

Last weekend jockey Harry Cobden claimed he would have picked up a 24-day ban for his winning ride on Il Ridoto at Cheltenham, while Sean Quinlan told media he believed he would have accrued 51 days in suspensions in the previous week under the new rules. The BHA has warned against the accuracy of some the claims being made about the severity of the rules, though they say they are reviewing “the manner in which the rules and guidance are being applied” both by raceday stewards and the committee which will meet once a week to determine penalties for rides under the spotlight.

Concerns

With Cheltenham just over five weeks away, Irish riders are likely to be concerned over whether they need to adapt their riding styles to avoid lengthy bans or even disqualification.

Andrew Coonan of the Irish Jockeys Association said: “I raised queries with the BHA, on foot of the impending implementation of the new whip rules. I suggested they supply us with video clips and details on what is permitted and what is not.

“They said they would do that and they also offered to come over and discuss the rules with the riders. They will be in Leopardstown on Sunday but it’s just for a casual talk. This weekend is very pressurised for our leading jockeys and they won’t have the headspace to concentrate fully on the whip issue. But it’s there for those who have queries, including myself.

“The hope is that the BHA officials will come back here on a non-raceday before Cheltenham, when they can have a further meeting with both the flat and National Hunt riders.”

Call for delay

This week champion British jumps trainer Paul Nicholls urged the BHA to consider delaying implementation of the new rules until after Cheltenham. Having already put back the start date by a week, the BHA says it is not considering any further changes to the schedule.

However, “the manner in which the rules and guidance are being applied” both by raceday stewards and the committee is being reviewed by the BHA.

A spokesperson said: “The purpose of the bedding-in period is to identify any practical considerations regarding the new rules and guidance, allow officials to familiarise themselves with the rules and guidance, and jockeys to identify areas where they may be required to adapt their technique ahead of implementation.

“As part of this process we are currently assessing some elements of the existing procedures, which includes the manner in which the rules and guidance are being applied on raceday, and by the whip review committee.

“We are not looking at changes to the specific rules or guidance, but instead how the guidance is being applied. We continue to urge riders to use the bedding-in period to make any necessary adjustments to their riding style in line with the guidance.”