Nicholls hits out at ‘ludicrous’ low sun call
Although the first two races of the afternoon took place without incident, hurdles were first dolled off prior to the third race, the totequadpot Novices’ Hurdle, after jockeys voiced concerns about the low sun.
However, all the fences were jumped in the following totetrifecta Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase, only for hurdles to be taken out again prior to the main event, the Listed totepool Betting On All UK Racing Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
While delighted his 8-13 favourite had come out on top, the champion trainer was left bemused.
“I’m not unhappy. It’s great she’s won but how can you have a chase half an hour earlier and jump the fences and then half an hour later take the hurdles out again?” Nicholls asked.
“I said to Sam (Twiston-Davies) ‘was it bad?’ and he said no, but some of the lads didn’t want to jump them so who do you listen to?
“Someone wants to stand up and say it’s safe or it’s not safe but how you can have a chase half an hour ago and then take the hurdles out? It’s absolutely ludicrous.
“She’s won but I could have easily pulled her out today because jumping is her game and she’s only jumped four hurdles, it’s madness. Actually, it’s making racing look farcical, that’s what frustrates me.
“If it’s a safety issue then definitely don’t do it, but it’s happening more and more, you very rarely see ithappen in Ireland, I think Ruby (Walsh) is over there laughing at us at the moment.
“If it’s unsafe then safety comes first but there comes a time when you say we are going over the top.
“We’re putting on a good show but it’s farcical at the moment.”
Nicholls has won a number of races in recent weeks badly affected by the low sun, with Sam Winner and Virak both taking notable prizes when obstacles have been bypassed.
Acting stipendiary steward Simon Cowley responded to the criticism by claiming officials can only make decisions based on what they hear from the jockeys before and after races.
“I understand that from the outside it seems illogical but the procedure we adopt when the sun is low is we consult with the jockeys before and after races to see how they feel about it,” he said.
“The jockeys presented to the starter that they were unhappy with the hurdles in the back straight so we got this information and decided to take the hurdles out.
“The safety of horses and jockeys is of paramount importance to us and if they express concern about safety they take hurdles out.
“That was done for the hurdles and the next race was a chase but they had no such concerns so we had to assume they were happy to jump, which they did.
“When we asked them if they wanted the hurdles put back in for the next they said they did not want that. If they said it was fine we’d have put them back.
“We are guided by the jockeys and take effectively a majority opinion.
“Our hands are not tied but we go with what they say.”
There was further incident in the concluding totepool Racing’s Biggest Supporter Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle as obstacles were once again bypassed following concerns about safety raised by jockeys at the start, despite the sun appearing to have set.
The stewards held an inquiry, interviewing riders James Best, Nico de Boinville, Micheal Nolan and Tom Bellamy.
Having reviewed their evidence and viewed a recording of the early stages of the race, the stewards ordered a report to be forwarded to the British Horseracing Authority.
The BHA’s media manager, Robin Mounsey, said: “Current procedures state that if the jockeys raise concerns to the stewards over the jumping of certain obstacles then they will be omitted.
“It would not be appropriate to make the jockeys jump an obstacle if they have raised concerns over their ability to jump it safely. Welfare of the participants must come first.
“Very simply, at the start of the hurdle races the jockeys raised concerns over certain obstacles.
“They did not raise concerns in the chase.”
