Johnny Murtagh voices concern as eight-strike whip limit in Ireland is confirmed

Trainer Johnny Murtagh has expressed reservations over the introduction of a whip-use limit of eight strikes in Ireland, which the Irish Horse Racing Regulatory Board has confirmed will come into effect at Gowran Park on April 9.

Earlier this month, after publishing its 2018 statistics that revealed a 26 per cent increase in the number of whip breaches to 213, the IHRB proposed the rule change – similar to the system already in place in Britain – and it was passed by the board of directors on Tuesday.

While Murtagh, who was champion jockey five times during a riding career that yielded more than 100 Group 1 victories, acknowledged the matter was a "tricky one", he suggested the introduction of a numerical limit on the whip potentially oversimplifies what he believes is a more complex matter.

He said: “In a big race there's a lot to think about and counting isn't one of them.

"If there's a fellow in second-last in a race and he gives his horse four, he should get done because that's misuse, whereas in a fighting finish of a Group 1 with two jockeys, head down, great race, great excitement, one hits his nine and the other hits his eight, I'm not sure that's equivalent to someone out the back with no chance giving his four.

Confirming the rule change, IHRB chief executive Denis Egan said on Wednesday: “The changes were approved on Tuesday and we'll be publishing the amended rules in the calendar next week. The rule change will be brought in on April 8 [to come into effect the following day at Gowran].”

Get ahead of the game with Get Your Eye In - exclusive Saturday preview content on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app from 2pm on Friday