Struthers: Jockeys must decide on vision problems caused by sun

Professional Jockeys Association chief executive Paul Struthers yeterday insisted riders must be the ones to decide if vision problems caused by the sun make fences and hurdles dangerous to jump, but stressed the organisation’s members need to use that power "responsibly" if it is to be retained.

Struthers was speaking a day on from the controversial bypassing of back straight hurdles in three races at Taunton, a move he described as “not ideal” and one branded by champion trainer Paul Nicholls as “ludicrous” and “farcical”.

On Taunton’s busiest day of the year only four flights were jumped in the three amended races, even though jockeys deemed it safe to retain the back straight fences adjacent to the omitted hurdles.

In a further twist, the third of the affected hurdle races was staged with six flights taken out even though by the 4.00 off time the sun had already set. Ruby Walsh argued the attitude to the sun was no different between Irish and British jockeys and pointed to the removal of the final fence in a chase at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Struthers said: “My message would be jockeys need to get together and sort it out.”