Ruby Walsh: BHA taking steps to tackle problem of too many races in condensed period of time

Solving most of the UK’s problems only required limits on how much racing could run concurrently. Saturday is a classic example, with five meetings in the afternoon and two in the evening

IMPROVING: Seamie Heffernan on Paddington wins The Coolmore Stud Blackbeard Irish EBF Tetrarch Stakes earlier this month. Pic: Lorraine O'Sullivan

British racing announced plans in the week surrounding its decision to try to reform its product. ‘Premierisation’ seemed to be the buzzword, and that boiled down to a two-hour slot on two-thirds of Saturdays next year and the year after.

This is a two-year trial, and the BHA will control the two-hour slot, which wants to have only three meetings running during this period: two premier meetings and one other, divided out to maximise the experience for punters during the busiest time of the week for recreational gambling.