'We must stay one step ahead' - whip consultation launch gets general thumbs-up

Newmarket trainers Charlie Fellowes and Ed Dunlop were among the voices reacting positively on Thursday to the delayed launch of the consultation into the whip in British racing and are hopeful the sport will benefit in the long term from the final recommendations of the 15-member steering group.

Having outlined the consultation process, which launched with an online survey open to anyone to express views on the whip until September 6, and will also include information gathered via focus groups and from within the industry prior to assessments and recommendations being made by the steering group, the BHA stated on Wednesday that it would be a "reasonable expectation that there will be some level of reform" as a consequence of the process.

That process was met with general approval from horsemen, with Fellowes stressing the importance of being open to opinions from outside racing's constituency.