Darley: discretion key to whip debate

JOCKEYS’ representatives in Britain will urge racecourse stewards to use more discretion when applying the whip rules when they meet with the British Horseracing Authority on Friday.

The rules have proved difficult to put into practice since being introduced in October, although it had been hoped changes made last November would improve the situation.

But the issue has been thrust back into the spotlight during the last week, with Robert Winston receiving a 22-day suspension at Southwell last Thursday and amateur Robert Cooper getting 52 days at Fontwell on the same afternoon.