'It's not in the rules, it's a policy they have adopted' - Northern Ireland stable questions why runner restrictions remain
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At Musselburgh on Sunday 47 horses contested seven races, with only two races meeting the criteria for each-way betting on the first three by having at least eight runners and two being ‘failed’ under the BHA’s metrics having attracted fewer than six competitors.
Given such a scenario, Marshall Watson has just one question: why can’t he and his father’s stable be a part of it?
Watson is assistant to his father, RK Watson, and is working towards taking over the running of the yard in his own name. They are based in Armagh, Northern Ireland, making them a part of the United Kingdom, except when it comes to racing their horses.
For those purposes, the Watsons are considered to be in Ireland as it is Horse Racing Ireland that licenses them. This has had the knock-on effect of barring the Watsons from being able to run their horses in class five and six Flat handicaps, and classified contests, in Britain between the start of this month and the end of the year.
The protocol preventing horses trained overseas from running in Britain first came into force during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, and was subsequently amended to only restrict horses from overseas contesting low-grade Flat races during the final months of each year.
The restriction has previously drawn the ire of trainers and owners based in Ireland, particularly given the BHA’s reasoning that it is in place to provide opportunities for those with horses in Britain at a time of the year when there can be pressure on field-size limits.
Watson says: “We didn’t know they were going to do it again – it’s not in the rules, it’s a policy they have adopted. I had planned to go to Musselburgh at the weekend and the rug’s been pulled out from under me.
“The biggest problem I can see is that the races aren’t filling. The race we wanted to run in at Musselburgh had 13 entries, so you’re lucky to be getting eight runners when that’s the case. I’ve tried to talk to them about this and offered a solution such as the overseas runners being first on the ballot list for a race that is oversubscribed, but I have been told they have their policy.
“All I know is that I’d have thought seven runner races aren’t as good for funding as having eight runners and each-way betting. Overseas runners also add a different perspective and interest to a card, which I’d have thought would help too.”
There are added areas of concern and frustration for Watson. Firstly, Watson argues that being based in Northern Ireland means his family’s yard should be considered the same as a yard in England, Scotland or Wales, as is the case for other businesses operating in the UK.
A clumsily worded BHA notice stating the policy was in place as there are “insufficient opportunities for British-trained runners” hardly helped, with this quickly changed to a lack of opportunities for “horses in the care of trainers who had their licence issued in Britain” when Watson pointed out that he and his father did not take kindly to not being regarded as British.
However, just as pressing is the impact it could have on the Watsons’ business. During the summer, Marshall Watson grafted away and succeeded in persuading owners based in Britain to have horses in his family’s yard with an eye to racing in Ireland and also back in Britain over the coming months. Yet, with this policy in place, the future is less certain for everyone at the yard.
“I’ve spoken to politicians about this and it has to be fair and equal for all,” Watson says. “Forget about racing for a minute and sport because I’m looking at this as a business. We pay our taxes to HMRC, we’re British citizens and as a British citizen you have to be treated the same regardless of if you are in Bristol or Belfast.
“The problem this has created now is that I have managed to get these owners based in Scotland and northern England to have horses here. If they decide that we are not going to be able to run their horses in Britain and move them away then we are going to have to remove two members of staff. The staff here all have kids, they all have families – how are we supposed to pick who we let go in such a situation?
“I could understand this more if there were big fields for these races, but there aren’t.”
Who Am I?
Today's clue:
"Kilmore! Does that name mean anything to you? It figures early on in my story – though only briefly and I suppose you could overstate its importance. A glance at my family tree might make you think I was destined for Grand Nationals but things worked out differently. At least I found my way to racing eventually, having discarded early thoughts of a career in construction."
It's the start of a new week in our 'Who Am I?' quiz, based around a different racing personality each week. We'll give you a new clue every day, with the answer revealed on Friday.
Think you know who it is? Email frontrunner@racingpost.com to say who. I'll give a mention to everyone who gets it right.
Michael Bailey won last week's competition, being the first to recognise George Baker as the Leger-winning jockey with a weakness for tiffins.
Three things to look out for today
1. A special day in the racing calendar has arrived with action taking place on the beach at Laytown in Ireland this evening. The tide will be out long enough for six races to take place, with the biggest prize on offer, €15,000, in the concluding contest, a 7f conditions race. Jamie Osborne won the race three times in 2016, 2017 and 2018 when the trainer would take a team across to compete at the meeting, but only Ian Williams travels over from Britain this year. Mokaatil lines up in the 6f handicap (5.05) for the trainer, while Ivasecret will have the assistance of Seamie Heffernan in the 7f claimer (5.35).
2. It proved to be a very satisfying weekend for Andrew Balding and Qatar Racing with New Century providing them, and stallion Kameko, with a Grade 1 in the Summer Stakes at Woodbine. A visit to Kameko may be in the future of Run Away as well, but first of all the filly will seek to gain a second success at Windsor. Originally bought for €2.6 million as a yearling by owner Saleh Al Homaizi prior to his default on purchase, Run Away, a sister to dual Group 1 winner Blackbeard, won on her debut before meeting with defeat at Doncaster. While she holds no fancy entries, a win from Run Away in the mile novice stakes (2.37) would likely set her up for a shot at some black type before the season finishes.
3. Not far from Windsor, racing will be taking place at Kempton this evening where a number of well-bred youngsters are making their debuts. In the 7f fillies’ novice stakes (5.30), Wild Angel and Wilhelmina are noteworthy runners. Wild Angel is a three-parts sister to dual Group 1 winner Space Blues, while Wilhelmina is a half-sister to last year’s Group 1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes winner Poptronic. Later on the card, Fireblade makes his debut in a 1m4f novice stakes (7.30). Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Fireblade is a brother to dual Champion Stakes winner Cracksman but will not be emulating his brother at stud as he has been gelded before making his first racecourse start.
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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.
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