Fix bias towards foreign runners in handicaps, urge British trainers

The body representing Britain's trainers believes the rule barring Irish runners from competing in low-grade jumps handicaps should not be relaxed until horses from all jurisdictions are handicapped effectively to "address a bias" towards foreign-trained runners at that level.

Irish trainers have been unable to make entries in Class 5 handicaps over jumps, with similar restrictions on the Flat, since June 2020 when the rule was brought in to "assist with controlling transmission of coronavirus".

The rule remains in place more than two years on, with Gordon Elliott labelling it "an absolute joke" on Thursday. Elliott, who has saddled 122 winners from 427 runners at Perth since July 2012 – including 16 winners from 59 runners at a 27.12 per cent strike-rate in Class 5 and Class 6 races – highlighted the fact he could not run horses in six of the 14 contests at the track this week.