BHA chief backs Dan Skelton's call for 'decisive' change - and Donald McCain supports idea of Aintree staging season finale

Racing's future is in peril unless the sport makes major changes admitted the BHA, as it responded to a number of radical suggestions to save the sport put forward by trainers' championship leader Dan Skelton in Sunday's Racing Post.

Skelton called for "big, bold changes" in order to stop the sport "slipping into obscurity" with racecourses conceding some power and a shake-up of the racing calendar – exemplified by his suggestion to make Aintree the big season finale so owners did not have to chose between running there or at Cheltenham.

The BHA on Sunday backed Skelton's assessment of the situation in which the sport finds itself. Acting chief executive Brant Dunshea said: "I agree with Dan that the sport needs decisive action. And, in fairness, this has been recognised by all of the sport’s leaders.