Lohn cases loom among potential troubles ahead

The BHA has safely hurdled one obstacle with yesterday's Quinlan report, but it still has several to come, including:

The Jim Best rehearing
Originally scheduled for mid-September, the Best case is now expected to be reheard the week beginning November 21, but the capacity for it to go wrong is significant. First, the prosecution relies almost entirely on the testimony of rider Paul John – if he chooses not to participate again the case might collapse. Second, the defence is likely to continue raising objections to the disciplinary system. County Galway trainer Paul Gilligan is also set to have his case reheard after an original conviction was overturned.

The Lohn seven
Seven other cases have been identified as potentially unsound due to the involvement of Matthew Lohn on the disciplinary panel. The BHA has offered to resolve the cases through arbitration, but the individuals involved could also choose to take them to the high court. Either way, the BHA faces the costly embarrassment of seeing high-profile convictions overturned.