'If we want to have eight runners they will run regardless' - Gigginstown's Eddie O'Leary blasts proposed limit on handicap runners

Owners and trainers would circumvent a BHA proposal aimed at increasing the competitiveness of major handicaps by switching horses to a different stable before races, Gigginstown House Stud's Eddie O'Leary said on Tuesday.

O'Leary, who alongside his brother, Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary, is an outspoken critic of the BHA, said the proposal would never work and that British racing would be better served by "getting their house in order" by improving field sizes and race competitiveness more generally.

The Racing Post revealed on Monday that the BHA had written to groups across the sport to seek their views on a proposal to limit the number of horses a trainer could run in Class 1 and 2 handicaps to four. No limits would apply in weight-for-age races, or on how many runners owners could have.

The cap was labelled “ridiculous” by trainer Gordon Elliott, who has frequently run more than four horses in top-tier British handicaps. However, Grand National-winning trainer Richard Newland, who has lobbied the BHA for restrictions on larger stables to maintain the competitiveness of jump racing, said the proposal was “music to my ears”.

Any limit would not be enforceable in practice, according to O'Leary, who said: "I can't understand why they feel the need to do this and, if they do, and let's say Gigginstown want to have eight runners, then we'll end up transferring four from Gordon into Colin Bowe's stable for the day – they will run regardless.

"The BHA are going to run out of feet to shoot themselves in – they just go from crisis to crisis. They are after cutting the Grand National by six runners to appease the unappeasable. That was bad enough, and now to come up with this. They've just shot themselves in the foot again – they can't help themselves. They would be better off getting their own house in order, getting races to fill and be competitive, instead of this carry on.

"Martin Pipe had 57 runners at Cheltenham 20 years ago when he had eight in the Pertemps and nine in the Coral Cup, and there wasn't a word about it. They can't fill races in Britain these days yet this is what they are concentrating on. It's madness." 

Elliott has often flexed his numerical muscle in British handicaps. In last year’s Grand National he ran five horses, while he saddled seven in 2022 and 11 in 2019. The trainer also sent out five runners in this year’s Coral Cup and six in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Trainer Gordon Elliott saddled five runners in last season's Grand NationalCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

He said: “I think it's ridiculous. How can you tell a trainer he can only run four horses if he is training for six different owners? I think there are bigger problems in the world than opening a can of worms like this. 

“We're not stopping horses from running in [British] races. I am trying to support these races for the racecourses and the sponsors. It's the owners that own the horses. You can't stop owners from having runners – if you go down that road you are getting into very tricky territory. 

“It's not my fault or Willie Mullins' or Henry de Bromhead's that we have the horses. I've worked hard for everything I have. Twenty years ago all the good horses were in England and the chances are it will go full circle in ten years' time again, but it's very unfair on owners and trainers if they go down this road.”

Approached for comment, the BHA said it had nothing further to add to its Monday statement, which said: “From time to time the BHA will contact stakeholders for views on various issues. We would not comment on speculation around private discussions."

In the summer, the National Trainers Federation (NTF) released statistics showing the number of trainers in Britain had dropped by more than 100 in the last decade. In response, the BHA held meetings with small and medium-sized trainers to allow them to voice their concerns.

Richard Newland: proposal "was music to my ears"Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Among those to attend the meetings was Newland, who also proposed to senior figures at the BHA in a separate get-together that limits should be placed on Irish-trained horses in lower grade jumps races.

Newland, who has diversified to include Flat horses into his operation due to his concerns about British jump racing, said: “I really hope the proposal goes through. It was music to my ears and I would say it’s the same for almost all jumps enthusiasts in this country as well. 

“The dominance of a handful of stables is not a healthy position for the sport and, to my mind, it is essential this goes through. The unhealthy dominance of Irish horses in UK racing and the idea that you can run ten, 12 or 14 horses in a race – that’s not what racegoers want to see. That’s not competitive or good for the sport. 

“It’s encouraging that our concerns are being listened to and that there is some brave thinking and actions being taken off the back of it.”

Read more:

Bombshell for biggest yards as BHA proposes limiting trainers to four runners in major handicaps 

Chris Cook: Only a baby step but an important one if racing is to keep some of its David v Goliath moments 

The Front Runner is our unmissable email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, the reigning Racing Writer of the Year, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday. Not a Members' Club Ultimate subscriber? Click here to join today and also receive our Ultimate Daily emails plus our full range of fantastic website and newspaper content