British horse racing’s contentious whip rules might lead to a key disqualification this Tuesday. This could potentially overturn the Irish-trained Alphonse Le Grand’s victory in the recent Newmarket Cesarewitch.
Ridden by Jamie Powell and trained by Cathy O’Leary, this 33/1 champion horse beat Manxman by just a nose in a thrilling climax. Nevertheless, the joy was short-lived as Powell’s ride was brought under scrutiny by none other than the British Horseracing Authority’s whip review committee (WRC). Alphonse Le Grand was notably hit 10 times with the whip by the apparently infringing Irish apprentice. The committee plans to assess the situation on the forthcoming Tuesday.
The whip rules, enforced last year by the British Horseracing Authority, restrict jockeys to six strikes. If a horse is struck 10 times or above, disqualification is a possibility. The ambiguity lies in the unanswered question of whether Powell actually hit the horse ten times.
Previously, the first racehorse found breaching these regulations was at Market Rasen last November. Until Saturday’s disputed event, only one other horse was disqualified.
Alphonse’s team is in the lurch, awaiting the vital BHA whip review on Tuesday.
There is confusion surrounding the implications of these rulings, as demonstrated by the bookmakers paying out on Alphonse Le Grande’s victory. Since bets are settled based on the day’s outcome, uncertainty about the Irish racehorse’s official standing in the prestigious roll of honour remains.
A spokesman for the British Horseracing Authority reassured that disqualification is not a guaranteed outcome. He added that, “An animal would only face disqualification if the WRC determines that the whip exceeded the allowed limit by at least four uses and if, for instance, all strikes made contact and none were indisputably for safety alone. Since the new rules took effect, there have been instances where a possible disqualification situation has been reviewed but did not lead to that outcome”.
Alphonse Le Grand is no stranger to contentious situations. In an incident not too long ago in July, the horse’s ex-trainer, Tony, had his licence suspension extended by two months due to a violation of doping regulations. This occurred after Tony showed up in the parade ring post-Alphonse’s victory in Newcastle. Tony had been initially suspended in May, a predicament which resulted in Cathy O’Leary, sister to Martin, taking over some training duties of Martin’s horses. Tony is projected to be back from his suspension later this week.
In other news, Simon Crisford, one of the trainers of Manxman, felt betrayed by recent happenings during a prominent race on Saturday. Alongside his son Ed, who also trains, he felt a sense of loss. Crisford expressed his disappointment, especially for Ed, considering the race’s historical significance and the magnitude of a victory. The fact that it was a televised event and vital to their stable has left both a sense of being swindled of their success.
In unrelated actions, on Monday, Cathy O’Leary is scheduled to have a participant in Roscommon. Palo Duro, having shown impressive improvement in his recent gallop at Galway, is expected to progress adequately to seize a handicap, with Colin Keane taking the reins.
For Drago Of Malta, who demonstrated a stellar comeback with a solid try at Listowel last go-around, soft turf conditions will likely be advantageous. Shane Foley may seek to utilise an interior start to his advantage in a seven-furlong handicap.