Elliott among trainers to welcome U-turn on low-grade ban for overseas horses

There was surprise and relief among Irish trainers on Wednesday after the BHA in effect announced a U-turn on its ban restricting overseas runners in low-grade races – a decision welcomed by Gordon Elliott and the body representing Ireland's trainers.

Officials at the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association (IRTA) and Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) had been pushing for the restriction to be removed for nearly two years, but the door seemed to be shut in August when the BHA showed no intention of backing down.

British authorities argued "overseas-trained runners consistently performed above statistical expectations when they were permitted to run" in low-grade races, although those statistics were challenged by separate Irish data analysts.