Oh whoopee, the whip is back in the news. This time, the headline is a threat from the British Horseracing Authority that “temporary measures” could be suddenly introduced if there are too many rule breaches at the Cheltenham Festival next week.
“Temporary measures” sounds very dramatic, as if the BHA was thinking about declaring an emergency, finding itself in a situation so problematic that action must be taken right away. In fact, the ruling body has been consulting on the subject and tweaking the rules at regular intervals for decades, so, if there is an emergency, they bear a large share of the responsibility. I see no such emergency myself.
Still, I get the distinct impression that the BHA wants to be seen to do something. In December, its chief executive told the BBC that “a new structure for penalties and deterrents for overuse of the whip” would be introduced in January. The BHA had to walk that one back the next day because no such decision had in fact been taken. Yet here we are again, with a spokesman saying “broader penalty provisions” could be put in place almost immediately if there is whip-related trouble at Cheltenham.
This is like saying: “We really want to change our rules soon,” because you couldn’t pick a race-meeting in the whole year that is more likely to generate whip-related controversy. But what I don’t like is the suggestion that the way forward is to tinker with the punishments faced by jockeys.
After all, jockeys are employed to do a job by trainers and owners. Do we think those employers have no influence on the way the job is done? We know perfectly well that considerable influence exists, not least from discussions about race-riding tactics. It has always seemed to me that jockeys are extremely respectful of the wishes of trainers and owners, which is the main reason they are so careful in their public discussions of a horse’s merits and flaws.
If you really want to reduce whip breaches to a minimum, you need to put owners and trainers in a position where they are also telling the jockey that the rules absolutely must not be broken. And you do that by extending the punishment for whip-rule breaches to include fines for trainers and owners. After all, they picked the jockey who broke the rules and are therefore responsible, to a degree.
Hitting jockeys harder, or more often, surely cannot be the answer every time we change these rules. For as long as they are the only ones punished, breaches will continue to occur. If the BHA is really serious about changing the culture of whip use, it needs to spread the burden to include those people who are most influential in how a jockey does the job. But it seems to me that owners and trainers are closer to the heart of power at BHA Towers than jockeys are, so the most likely outcome is that jockeys will be given yet another kick.
To Southwell for some jump racing, where Monday’s nap is Rodeo Dodo (5.00). This lightly raced beast did not have the most promising career in point to points, his only success coming when all the other runners failed to finish, but Dan Skelton managed to get him to win on his handicap debut a fortnight ago.
The first three pulled well clear in that 17-runner contest, giving every reason for hope that a 5lbs hike will not prevent Rodeo Dodo from going in again. The first-time tongue tie offered a reason for his improvement on the novice form he showed in 2017. The bounce factor is a concern but 15-8 more than compensates for that risk.
Ut Majeur Aulmes (2.20) could be worth a second look in the opener at 8-1. This is the veteran’s third run of the season and, if sharper this time, he could be dangerous off a mark that has dropped 10lb in two months.
At Fakenham, Truckers Tangle (4.15) appeals at 15-2, given there was some promise in his recent chasing debut. He’s still a maiden but this step up in trip seems likely to help.
Fakenham 2.10 Swaffham Bulbeck 2.40 Conas Taoi 3.10 Uno Mas 3.45 Molliana 4.15 Truckers Tangle (nb) 4.50 Lyndsays Lad
Southwell 2.20 Ut Majeur Aulmes 2.50 Mr Love 3.20 River Bray 3.55 Shantung 4.25 Roser Moter 5.00 Rodeo Dodo (nap) 5.30 Winningseverything
Wolverhampton 5.45 Arrowzone 6.15 Aguerooo 6.45 Mootasadir 7.15 Chevallier 7.45 Questionare 8.15 Sundiata
Tips by Chris Cook
