'There's a bigger picture and this is good news' - new Jockeys' Cup defended after criticism from owners

Paddy Power has made a strong defence of the new £1.5 million jockeys' competition, which has come in for criticism from owners.

The David Power Jockeys' Cup, which was launched at Cheltenham on Friday, allows riders to compete for points in ITV races, in search of a £500,000 top prize.

Trainers and staff are also rewarded but Racehorse Owners Association chief executive Louise Norman was "disappointed" it had not taken into consideration "any recognition or reward for racehorse owners who, as the largest investors into the industry, are yet again overlooked during any discussions or communications".

Flutter's brand ambassador Paddy Power, from bookmaker Paddy Power, said: "I'd be absolutely respectful of every stakeholder but I think there's a bigger picture and this is good news. It's innovative, something new and not replacing something else. It's something extra.

"If there's more eyeballs on the sport that's great. People start following it better and maybe the audience profile becomes a bit younger. There's a lot of knock-on benefits to it. What's good for the sport is good for everyone."

He stressed the company understood racing had many stakeholders and said: "Without owners there would be no racing, without trainers there would be no racing and without jockeys there would be no racing, so everybody is really important.

"I think on reflection this is a new £1.5 million investment, not coming from somewhere else, going into a prize fund to create a new initiative."

He feels the new initiative will help promote racing and said: "Hopefully, it'll make more personalities out of these guys, make them more accessible and recognisable to people watching at home.

"If you think about it, they're the constants. We'll have loads of horses and colours on a raceday, but these are the ones who will be here the next day and the day after that. They'll be different horses and colours. In terms of following a narrative, this is what people can relate to. 

"That'll make it more and more exciting as the season goes on and in an ideal world, we'll get two, three or four jockeys fighting it out in the last few weeks and it becomes a good storyline for the Champions [Full Gallop] series. 

"If you look at other sports, the way they've connected with their audience, expanded them and re-engaged the existing fanbase, it just works. There's no reason it can't work for racing."

Now read these . . .

'We're fully invested and prepared to be more accessible' - jockeys pledge to open up as part of new lucrative competition 

Leading jump jockeys welcome 'transformative' new competition for ITV races with winning prize of £500,000 

Jockey gets 12-day ban for taking wrong course as Sweet David wins chaotic cross-country for France 

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