Whip talks offer hope for greater discretion by stewards and rewards for jockeys who stick to rules

Kevin Darley, chief executive of the PJA, described the meeting, attended by his opposite number at the BHA, Paul Bittar, as “positive and constructive” while Jamie Steir, the BHA’s director of raceday operations, said that there was plenty of common ground between the parties.

“It was explained that any future adjustments to the rule – should any be implemented – would need to follow due process including approval from the BHA board,” said Steir.

However, outlining the common ground, he added: “This includes the need for greater discretion by stewards and might include developing incentives for riders who do not breach the rules over a set period.”

Giving jockeys an incentive to stick to the rules is a new development. At the moment it is a huge disincentive to stay within the rules if the likelihood is you will be beaten a shorthead by a jockey prepared to break them. Any such change would need a lot of thinking through.

The jockeys remain unhappy about losing prize money but Bittar had earlier volunteered the opinion that the penalty did not always reflect the breach in a radio interview. “The rules have required a significant change from the jockeys and, by and large, they have been successfully implemented. But the proportionality of the penalty in relation to the breach has been the biggest challenge,” he said.

Bittar’s style is already proving very different to his predecessor, Nic Coward. In three days he will have done more interviews that Coward did in three years. On Saturday he will appear on the Morning Line and on Sunday he will be on Radio 5 Live’s Sportsweek.

Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey Sam Waley-Cohen suffers more woe at the hands of the stewards

The fact that Waley-Cohen has ridden point-to-point winners since that Gold Cup has cut no ice with many punters, who have called for owner Robert Waley-Cohen to take his son off Long Run and replace him with a professional at Cheltenham in March. The owner has refused.

Frankly, the Waley-Cohens have invested fortunes in racing and have the right to book who they like for their horses. That Sam Waley-Cohen is not up to the standard of AP McCoy, Ruby Walsh and company is already factored into the price, in any case. Nobody would be offering 11-4 Long Run with McCoy in the saddle.

Despite the support of his family, Sam Waley-Cohen will still need the confidence-boost of a big winner under Rules before the Festival. Victory in the Betfair Denman Chase aboard Long Run at Newbury would be perfect.

Meanwhile, Henderson has been producing wave after wave of new equine talent in recent weeks, among the most impressive being last Saturday’s Tolworth Hurdle winner Captain Conan, who was quoted at 16-1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Another is the unbeaten Darlan, who won cosily for Henderson and Barry Geraghty at Taunton on Monday, and shortened to 12-1 (from 16-1) for the Supreme Novices, though the jockey was playing down the performance.

Geraghty said: “He’s probably one of those who makes it look easier than it is.” This fourth consecutive win could not have been achieved in cheekier style, merely underlining the strength in Henderson’s ranks.

“And we’ve quite a few to come yet,” the trainer reminded me. “This is a big week for our novices. There are many I want to get out and run. I have large entries for Doncaster, where the ground should be best, and also Kempton on Saturday.”

Among the most interesting ‘possibles’ in the coming week are Barenger, who won a Newbury bumper last November. He holds entries at Doncaster, Huntingdon and Wetherby.

Others to watch for are Malt Master, who won a maiden hurdle at Newcastle in November, and the four year-old State Senator, a 65-rated maiden on the Flat yet one who clearly shows potential over hurdles. Both hold multiple entries this week.

Finally, even in the ratings game, it seems there is clearly great rivalry. On the eve of the official International Classifications, to be announced at BHA headquarters in London on Tuesday, Timeform have pre-empted the event by announcing that their form gurus have rated Frankel 143 for his efforts in 2011.

This is the highest figure given to a Flat horse in 39 years by the respected Halifax organisation, and the fourth highest in their history. As Timeform’s Racehorses of 2011 is not published until March, this appears a deliberate ploy to steal the thunder of officialdom.