Byrnes plots Cesarewitch raid with Haydock winner despite 'the worst' BHA rule

Irish trainer Charles Byrnes is considering a return to Britain for a crack at the Cesarewitch with Haydock winner Run For Oscar, despite his deep frustration at the BHA for continuing to bar overseas-trained horses from competing in low-level handicaps.

After Run For Oscar's victory in the Sky Bet Sunday Series Stayers Handicap on Sunday evening, Byrnes added his voice to the growing discontent over the rule preventing horses trained outside Britain from running in Class 5 and 6 races, a move he described as "the worst rule ever invented".

Byrnes, a multiple Grade 1 winner including at the Cheltenham Festival, was speaking two days after the BHA said it had no plans to revisit the controversial ruling, which was brought in after the first coronavirus lockdown in 2020.

"I think it's unbelievable. I just can't get my head around it. It must be the worst rule that was ever invented," he said.

"It costs so much to come over here now and they're stopping us coming with the moderate horses and the fields over here are so small as well. It's a polite way of telling us to f*** off."

Byrnes joined fellow Irish trainers Gordon Elliott and Johnny Levins in hitting out at the rule, but the BHA's chief operating officer Richard Wayman outlined on Friday how data on field sizes, elimination of lower-grade horses and handicapping meant the cross-industry Racing Group felt there was no need for a revision.

Byrnes, who was banned for six months last year after one of his horses was 'nobbled' with a sedative at Tramore racecourse, has had five winners from 36 runners over jumps in Britain in the last five seasons.

Run For Oscar draws clear to win the 2m handicap at Haydock on SundayCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

He has also had three winners from six runners on the Flat in Britain during the same timescale and Run For Oscar could look to enhance that impressive strike-rate at Newmarket in October.

After his win in the two-mile handicap at Haydock, the seven-year-old was cut to 16-1 (from 25) by Paddy Power for next month's Irish Cesarewitch, which is worth €600,000 this year.

"The race worked out perfectly for him as he was able to settle out the back and let the rest of them do the donkey work," said Byrnes. "He was fairly stoked up to get there and wasn't overly impressive, but he got the job done.

"We'll probably go for the Cesarewitch if he gets in as I think the race will suit him. We'll consider Newmarket as the Irish one will be fiercely competitive this year, with the prize-money and everything, and although he'll go up a few pounds, he wasn't anywhere near getting in that before this."

Read more on this . . .

BHA has 'no plan to revisit' ban on overseas runners in low-grade handicaps

Johnny Levins: ban on Irish runners in low-level handicaps is 'just wrong'

Fix bias towards foreign runners in handicaps, urge British trainers (Members' Club)

'That's not fair' – O'Brien backs Elliott's call to open races to Irish runners

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