The rule which permits a jockey to ride against a horse she trains at Taunton on Tuesday

The concluding race on Taunton's Tuesday card is significant for Olive Nicholls as not only does she ride the favourite, but she also trains another runner in the contest.

Nicholls, 19, will ride the odds-on Shearer for her father, Paul Nicholls, in the 2m7f Open Hunters' Chase, while also saddling 18-1 chance Didero Vallis in the seven-runner field.

Although an unusual event, it is permissible under the BHA Rules of Racing. A BHA spokesperson said on Tuesday: "Miss Nicholls is permitted to ride in today’s race under a clause in Rule (B)30 of the Rules of Racing that allows this situation in a Hunters’ Steeple Chase." 

What is the ruling?

The BHA ruling (B)30 states "any licensed trainer who is also a jockey or authorised to ride in a race by another recognised racing authority may only ride in a race if":

• 30.1 they are riding a horse trained by them and that is the only horse in the race trained by them, or
• 30.2 they do not train any of the horses in the race unless they area permit trainer riding in a hunters' steeple chase.

Owned by the McNeill family and 14-time champion trainer Paul Nicholls, Shearer ran out a 37-length winner in a Hunters' Chase contest at Ffos Las earlier this month following a 601-day layoff.

Before that, the nine-year-old recorded back-to-back victories at Ludlow and Aintree under Harry Cobden, but it was Olive Nicholls who partnered Shearer to the runaway win at Ffos Las. 

Shearer is being aimed at next month's Hunters' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Paul Nicholls said: "I'm trying to qualify him for Olive to ride. He has to be first or second in another hunter chase before the end of the month after winning well at Ffos Las."

Didero Vallis, a four-time winner under rules, has made three point-to-point outings for Olive Nicholls, most recently when second of five at Cocklebarrow in January.

Three of the 12-year-old's career successes had come with Venetia Williams, while he also scored on his debut for Willie Mullins as a four-year-old at Downpatrick in August 2017.

Read these next:

'She deserves to be prominent in the betting - this has been her number one target' 

Patience pays off for Paul Nicholls as sublime Pic D'Orhy gives him first Grade 1 in a year with fine run from the front 

Olive Nicholls: 'Longer term I would love to train - and at some point I will join Dad' 

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