Three high-profile rides that would have fallen foul of the new whip rules

The most controversial aspect of the new whip rules is the potential for overuse to cause a winner to be disqualified.

Where there has been "flagrant or egregious abuse of the whip rules", if the stewards are certain that "a jockey has wilfully sought to gain an advantage through misuse of the whip" they can alter the result.

Specifically, the recommendation is that a horse be disqualified if the rider uses the whip four times or more over the permitted level.

The hope is that that sanction will never need to be used, that its mere presence will act as a deterrent and prevent win-at-all-cost rides that would risk having victory taken away by the stewards.

However, it is possible to look back on recent history and highlight horses that won under the old rules who would face disqualification under the new system.

Cue Card

Paddy Brennan's effort in the King George VI Chase at Kempton in December 2015 cost him an 11-day ban and a £4,200 fine.

He looked to be set for second place on Cue Card jumping the second-last fence, only for the leader Vautour to begin to come under pressure.

Brennan sensed his chance and gave his mount a strong drive with his whip in his left hand. The 9-2 shot led on the line for victory by a nose.

He was judged to have used the whip 16 times, twice the number allowed under the rules, though three hits were discounted as "light and early".

Ruby Walsh also breached the rules on Vautour but to nothing like the same extent and was banned for just two days.

Cue Card (far side) battled on gallantly to beat Vautour in the 2015 King George VI ChaseCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Thanks Be

Hayley Turner's historic success in the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2019 sent mixed signals to the world watching the showpiece fixture.

She became just the second female jockey to ride a winner at the royal meeting and the first in 32 years.

However, it took serious effort with her whip in the right hand for Turner to ensure the 33-1 shot held off the Queen's Magnetic Charm, who was beaten just a neck at the line.

Turner went four strikes over the permitted level and was punished with a nine-day ban and a fine of £1,600. James Doyle was suspended for two days for using his whip in an incorrect place on the runner-up.

Hayley Turner's use of the whip on Thanks Be earned her a nine-day suspension in 2019Credit: Edward Whitaker

Noble Yeats

The whip report itself flags up this year's Grand National as a notable example of a race in which the winner would have been in danger of disqualification under the new rules.

Any Second Now looked set to prevail as he jumped into the lead at the last fence but Noble Yeats responded to a strike with the whip and was soon back on terms.

Sam Waley-Cohen kept at him with a right-hand drive from the elbow and the 50-1 shot kept on determinedly to score by just over two lengths.

The amateur rider to win the National since 1990 had announced beforehand he was going to retire after the race. But he was still handed a nine-day ban, as well as a £400 fine. No other jockey was penalised for their use of the whip in the race.

Sam Waley-Cohen broke the rules when winning the Grand National on Noble Yeats (left)Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Read these next:

Full story: backhand whip use only and disqualification to be introduced in new whip rules

Reaction: 'It does not go far enough' – charity criticises whip review despite involvement

Reaction: bookmakers seek clarity on 'far from ideal' whip disqualifications

Reaction: 'It's going to feel foreign to some' – jockeys react to backhand whip ruling

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.