Racing League non-runner averted after BHA allowed replacement jockey

The Racing League was allowed by the BHA to relax its rules on booking jockeys from outside of a team in order to avoid an embarrassing non-runner at Windsor on Thursday evening.

Trainer Rae Guest had expressed his disappointment after bottomweight Eklil was left without a jockey in the last race.

Guest and owner Derek Willis had booked Luke Morris to ride Eklil in the £50,000 1m3½f handicap, but he was already engaged to ride Ed Dunlop’s Haunted Dream for The East team, which Guest is also part of.

Jeremy Wray: 'Hopefully it's a one-off basis and he can get a jockey who can do the weight'

Racing League executives spent the first part of Thursday sticking to its own rules that stated that Guest could only employ one of the nine jockeys signed up to The East team, but Hayley Turner, the only alternative to Morris, was riding at Salisbury.

BHA rules allow a maximum of 3lb overweight to be carried, meaning none of the other jockeys in The East team were eligible.

But announcing the compromise which allowed Jimmy Quinn to ride Eklil, the league's chief executive Jeremy Wray said: "The BHA has approved that we can get another jockey but not one who rides for another team so we are going to allow them as it's unusual circumstances.

"Hopefully it's a one-off basis and he can get a jockey who can do the weight. We want as bigger fields as we can but without compromising the competition."

Rae Guest: was be able to run Eklil at Windsor on ThursdayCredit: Patrick McCann

Guest had expressed frustration that Eklil looked set to be ruled out and was understandably pleased at the change of heart on the part of the Racing League.

Guest said: "They've backtracked. They now say due to unusual circumstances that we can now run the horse but with a jockey who is not in any of the teams and we've got Jimmy Quinn to ride.

"We did suggest this two days ago but anyway we're pleased now that the horse can run and he's just left the yard on his way to the races."

Eklil and Quinn finished third to Wootton'Sun, one place behind Haunted Dream and Morris.

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