BHA hopes first disqualification 'sends clear message' to jockeys over the whip before Cheltenham

The BHA says it hopes the disqualification of Lunar Discovery from second place in an Ayr bumper – the first such sanction under Britain's newly toughened whip rules – "sends a clear message" to the weighing room.

Conditional rider Charlotte Jones earned an unwanted slice of turf history after being found to have used the whip 11 times, which at four over the permitted level triggered an automatic disqualification and a 14-day ban, a ruling described by connections as a result of the new rules removing any element of discretion.

Jones's punishment was the most notable in a raft of 20 decisions handed down on Wednesday by the BHA's newly created whip review committee, which also returned an 18-day ban for Lorcan Williams. The 23-year-old will miss the Cheltenham Festival for his winning ride on Makin'yourmindup at Haydock on Saturday, while conditional jockeys Luke Scott and Cameron Iles will also not be able to take up any rides on offer during jump racing's marquee fixture.

Jockey Charlotte Jones and trainer Jimmy Moffatt have had runner-up Lunar Discovery disqualified from second in a mares' bumper at AyrCredit: David Carr

A joint statement from Lunar Discovery's trainer Jimmy Moffatt, owner-breeders Kevin and Anne Glastonbury and the rider herself accepted the verdict of the panel, while backing Jones.

The statement read: "It is obviously very disappointing and upsetting for all of us here to see that Lunar Discovery was disqualified from her second-placed finish last week. However, it was understood by the sport that in tightening up the rules and penalties around whip use we would see a reduced level of discretion as to what constituted an offence. On this basis, despite being firmly of the view that there was no detrimental impact at all on our horse, we are accepting of the outcome that the review panel has reached."

The statement continued: "Lunar Discovery was in excellent health after her race and will be ready to go again in due course, where she will continue to be ridden by Charlotte, after she has served her first ever whip ban."

Brant Dunshea hopes the first raft of sanctions issued by the BHA's whip review panel will "send a clear message" to jockeys Credit: IFHA

One striking statistic is that among the 19 riders sanctioned by the review panel, 12 were conditional jockeys and another two amateurs. Williams was one of only five full professionals to have fallen foul of the new rules and the only one to pick up more than a four-day ban for minor breaches.

Brant Dunshea, the BHA's chief regulatory officer, said: "Jockeys have had more than four weeks to adapt to the new rules through the bedding-in period. As the jockeys themselves have stated, it is now up to them to ensure that they ride within the new rules. Disqualification has been introduced as the ultimate deterrent for overuse of the whip. There is simply no excuse for using the whip four or more times above the permitted level.

"It was always likely that the disqualification rule would need to be invoked in the early stages of the implementation of the new rules. We hope this sends a clear message to all jockeys and reinforces this deterrent effect."

The Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices' Hurdle at Haydock on Saturday was the highest profile race to feature whip offences, with Kevin Brogan also banned for eight days for his ride on runner-up Collectors Item, who lost out by a short head to Makin'yourmindup. Under the new rules, bans are doubled in Class 1 and 2 races and Scott also suffered under that regulation. He received a 14-day ban for his ride on Progressive in a Class 2 handicap hurdle at Wetherby on February 15.

Addressing the case of Williams, Dunshea added: "Lorcan was advised on numerous occasions throughout the bedding-in period of rides that would amount to a breach of the new rules should he continue to ride in the same manner."

Lorcan Williams: 18-day suspension for overuse of the whip on SaturdayCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

The Racing Post understands that Williams breached the old rules twice during the bedding-in period and received written notice that a ride would not have been clean under the new rules on a further nine occasions.

Williams said he was "absolutely gutted" to miss Cheltenham, adding: "It's very difficult because it's been a big change and the bedding-in period of the new rules wasn't a success by any means."

The sense that riders are still unsure in the heat of the moment whether they are riding within the new rules was echoed by Luca Morgan – this season’s leading conditional jockey in Britain – after he had won the 2m3f chase at Doncaster on On Springs on Wednesday.

As he walked back to the weighing room, Morgan said: "There are so many little rules involved, you almost wouldn't know whether you are doing it right within that split-second. You can watch it back and think maybe that was a bit high or with not enough time to respond. But in the moment it's hard to think about those things.

"I hit that horse four times and I honestly wouldn't be able to tell you if any of them were too high or anything. I did it how I felt was correct, not too hard and how I've been using it for years. I'll have to watch it back and hope I didn't do anything wrong."

The start date for any whip suspension incurred this week is the opening day of the festival on Tuesday, March 14. While an entry-level four-day ban can be moved to avoid a Grade 1 fixture, any punishment more serious than that – starting with the seven days incurred for going two strokes over the permitted seven strikes – will automatically rule a rider out of Cheltenham.

List of jockeys banned under new whip rules

Gavin Sheehan (used whip once above permitted level)
Ban: March 7-10

Conor O'Farrell (used whip without giving mount time to respond)
Ban: March 7-10

Charlotte Jones (used whip four times above permitted level)
Ban: March 7-20

Luke Scott (used whip twice above permitted level in Class 2 race)
Ban: March 7-20

Caoilin Quinn (used whip once above shoulder height)
Ban: March 7-10

Dillan Hurst: (used whip twice above permitted level)
Ban: March 7-13

Edward Austin (used whip without giving mount time to respond)
Ban: March 7-10

Jack Hogan (used whip once above permitted level)
Ban: March 7-10

Dylan Kitts (used whip once above permitted level)
Ban: March 7-10

Niall Houlihan (used whip once above permitted level)
Ban: March 7-10

Harry Kimber (used whip without giving mount time to respond)
Ban: March 7-10

Toby McCain-Mitchell (used whip without giving mount time to respond)
Ban: March 7-8, March 10, March 19

Meisha Micklewright (used whip once above shoulder height)
Ban: March 7-8, March 10, March 19

Alex Edwards (used whip twice above permitted level)
Ban: March 7-13

Aidan Coleman (used whip without giving mount time to respond)
Ban: March 7-10

Cameron Isles (used whip without giving mount time to respond and twice above permitted level)
Ban: March 7-17

Harry Kimber (used whip once above permitted level)
Ban: March 11-13, March 18

Lorcan Williams (used whip twice above permitted level and above shoulder height in Class 1 race)
Ban: March 7-24

Kevin Brogan (used whip once above permitted level in Class 1 race)
Ban: March 7-14

Derek Fox (used whip twice above permitted level)
Ban: March 7-13

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