CHICAGO GREY NEEDS TO MAKE EARLY IMPACT IN GRAND NATIONAL

The early stages of this month's John Smith's Grand National will be crucial for Chicago Grey, according to Gordon Elliott.

CHELTENHAM 16-3-2011. The National Hunt Chase.

Derek O'Connor and CHICAGO GREY with trainer Gordon Elliott and Annie Bowles after he recorded his 1st Cheltenham success. Creative Commons by Horse Racing Ireland


The nine-year-old has got detached early-on in previous races and Elliott is worried that he could get too far behind in the Aintree event.

Elliott told At The Races: "He schooled last week, schooled very well and stays well, he won the four-miler at Cheltenham last year," 

"If he can get into a nice rhythm in the first half of the race I think he`ll run a massive race. The first four or five fences are going to be very important, if he can get into a rhythm and get jumping.

"He`s probably not the best jumper in the world, he`s adequate, he has his own technique. It`s hard to know what horse is going to take to it."

Paul Carberry will ride the grey in twelve days time while Paul Nicholls is down to one representative (Neptune Collonges) after the retirement of Niche Market due to injury.

My Opinion:


There has been a lot of media hype surrounding Chicago Grey and there is no doubt in saying that he is a talented horse. 
Elliott has said it right though, if the grey gets detached from the group in the early stages of the race then he's out. Carberry needs to time it well to ensure that the Cheltenham 2011 winner has a chance of winning.


Ballabriggs is another horse that needs to be watched but I cannot help but be tempted by Sunnyhillboy. I have seen him run before and is decent horse. One to watch over the next few days.
The Grand National is anybody's game - all horses are in for a shot. 


What I am worried about is whether or not the high-profile racing event will attract bad publicity again. Last year was a bad year for the sport as a result of Jason Maguire's ride on winner Ballabriggs. I think people who aren't into racing need to read up on the sport so that it does not come under inappropriate scrutiny.


It angers me when people are ignorant towards the rules of the whip. With all the media attention the sport has been receiving it wouldn't surprise me if many viewers or spectators will be eagle-eyed and on the prowl for any mistake made by the jockeys.


Should it happen again: watch this space!

BHA TO SET-UP INCIDENT ROOM AT CHELTENHAM

The British Horseracing Authority is to set-up an 'incident room' at the Cheltenham Festival next month.

It's specific task will be to monitor what is being broadcast across the media, including television, radio and online.

The aim is to keep stewards and officials situated on the ground up-to-date with public opinion towards the whip and enable them to react appropriately.

The BHA's scheme will also be put into operation at Aintree as the 2011 Grand National re-sparked the controversial whip debate.

Communication between Aintree racecourse and the BHA caused the public opinion storm on the matter which was made worse due to officials remaining unaware of what was being said and were unable to react to it.

My Opinion:

As the Grand National caused a storm within the public, allowing an 'incident room' to be set-up at Cheltenham will help save the sport from further controversial debate.

Cheltenham racecourse is my favourite, and I would hate to see it come under scrutiny like Aintree did.

BHA RELAXES WHIP RULES - AUTOMATIC SUSPENSIONS REPLACED

The new whip rules are to undergo fresh changes following a British Horseracing Authority meeting yesterday.


These changes will be made before the Cheltenham Festival so that the high-profile racing event does not become a public relations disaster as well as become overshadowed by whip bans.


From early next month, jockeys who exceed the allowed number of strikes (seven on Flat and eight over jumps) will only trigger the interest of the stewards and they will no longer be given automatic suspensions.


This means that stewards will be able to apply more common sense to the use of the whip in a race as well as more discretion in their policing work.


The penalty regime will also be eased and this will be put into practise on Thursday following the proposals put forward by the BHA's new Chief Executive, Paul Bittar, as they were given the backing from his directors on Tuesday.

PAUL BITTAR TO PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO WHIP RULES IN BHA MEETING ON TUESDAY

PAUL BITTAR is to propose new changes to the British Horseracing Authority's (BHA) controversial rules on the use of the whip.

Bittar is the new Chief Executive of the BHA and is to discuss fresh amendments to the rules in a meeting on Tuesday (tomorrow).

This meeting is an attempt to avoid damaging publicity over the controversial issue during next month's Cheltenham Festival.

Large events such as the Festival have already caused damage to the sport - last year's Grand National winner Jason Maguire re-sparked the debate over the rules and caused a media frenzy over the matter.

Bittar's suggestions are likely to aim on a reduction to the current unfair penalties for minor offences rather than any significant changes to the rules themselves.

However, there may also be scope for stewards to apply more judgement when deciding whether a jockey is in breach.

If agreed to, any changes to the rules will have little time to "bed in" before the Festival, but when set against the potential of high-profile whip bans at the Festival, Bittar has decided that this is a risk worth taking.

Finally, Paul Bittar has come to our rescue! It's about time that amendments should be made. Like I have said before, the new rules weren't at all fair for jockeys. They're ridiculous and giving horseracing a bad image. Bittar is right by suggesting to change the rules before the Festival, but is it a case of too little too late?
My answer, no. Since the rules were changed in October, Bittar has reacted well to the situation. He's realised just how harsh these rules are and how they're producing an unhealthy view into the sport.

PAUL BITTAR SAYS THAT WHIP PENALTIES MAY BE EASED

The BHA's new chief executive has announced that whip penalties could be relaxed.

Paul Bittar has claimed that the controversial penalty that jockeys receive as a result of breaking the new rules may be eased.

Bittar took up the post on Wednesday (January 18) but insisted that immediate changes were unlikely, yet he discussed how the new levels of punishment were inaccurate as they don't fit the crime.

Jockeys, trainers and even punters have reacted badly to the severe penalties that are given - the row started as a result of the 2011 Grand National where Jason Maguire was heavily criticised for excessive use of the whip on Ballabriggs.

The debate has recently been reignited as a result of Will Kennedy's suspension following his win in the Lanzarote Hurdle.

He received a seven-day ban and even had to forfeit his prize money.

During that weekend, over 100-day suspensions were handed out, resulting in negative reactions from the racing world.

Come on Paul, I know you can see the severity of the punishment. It's unfair on everyone: jockeys, trainers and owners. Listen to what the professionals want and change the rules to what they were previously. It needs to be done.

 NEW WHIP RULES

• Jockeys can use the whip seven times in Flat races and eight times in National Hunt
• Jockeys exceeding the limit by one strike will be suspended             
• Exceeding the limit by more than one strike will mean the jockey forfeits a share of prize money 

LASHING OUT - MY OPINION ON RULES OF THE WHIP IN HORSE RACING

Since the rules of the use of the whip in horse racing changed last year, it seems that each ban gets more and more ridiculous.

Personally, I believe that the whip in the sport was already used responsibly and reasonably.

Jockeys are now faced with further restrictions as to how many times they can use the whip.

From October 10th 2011, the number of times a jockey’s whip changed to eight in National Hunt races and nearly halved to seven times in flat races.

  

With recent bans including Lanzarote Hurdle winner, Will Kennedy and amateur riders including Robert Cooper, I believe the BHA should refer back to its previous rules on the whip as jockeys were doing just as well then.

How can you reduce the number of times you can hit the horse with the whip if it doesn't even hurt them in the first place?

Jockeys need to control the horses: they are large, heavy creatures who need to be given guidance in a race.

  

The whip is an essential element to why racing is such a greatly admired sport as around six million people attend just over 1,500 race meets in a year.

Will Kennedy said it right : "I'm not really one for hitting them but I missed the last and what do I tell the owners?

"I either hit her two more times and win by a nostril or I don't and I get beaten. Who can say I would have won without those two hits? It's disappointing."

He said: "You work your backside off and lose two-and-a-half grand. You sometimes wonder why you bother".

The BHA needs to reconsider the rules and I believe they should return to what they were previously.

Read my interview with Sussex trainer Diana Grissell on the use of the whip: http://everyoneisstarryeyed.blogspot.com/2011/11/whipping-up-debate-with-sussex-trainer.html

SWINCOMBE FLAME SIZZLES IN THE LANZAROTE HURDLE BUT KENNEDY MUST FORFEIT PRIZE MONEY

SWINCOMBE FLAME managed to win by a nostril in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton yesterday.

Trainer Nick Williams and jockey Will Kennedy have now won the hurdle for the second time after Swincombe Flame beat Featherbed Lane by a final stride past the winning post.

The mare did well to battle amongst the army of rivals around her and when she crept into first position, the crowd roared with delight as she was the well-backed favourite at 9/2.

Featherbed Lane, however, powered past her over the final jump, but despite a bad jump from Swincombe Flame as well as a photo finish, Kennedy brought home a winner.

But Kennedy has now been told to forfeit his prize money which he won for winning the hurdle as he was penalised for excessive use of the whip.

He also faces a seven day ban as a result.