Moore praises decision to block Mangan's Derby ride

Ryan Moore has backed the BHA's decision to stop apprentice Gina Mangan from riding in Saturday's Investec Derby, saying that "common sense has won out".

On Wednesday evening it was revealed Mangan would not be allowed to ride rank outsider Diore Lia on safety grounds due to her inexperience in the saddle.

The BHA invoked little-known rule 83, which gives discretion to refuse the declaration of a rider, and it is a decision that has the backing of former champion jockey Moore.

Speaking in his Betfair column, Moore said: "The BHA gets its fair share of criticism but in the main they do a very good job in difficult circumstances, and I think they have to be congratulated in deciding that Gina Mangan isn't allowed to ride in the Derby.

"They have done the right thing by the horse and, while Gina Mangan may not appreciate it at the moment, they have done the right thing by the jockey, too."

Moore has his pick of Aidan O'Brien's seven potential Derby contenders, of which Finn McCool has the lowest official ranking with a mark of 99. By way of comparison, Diore Lia has not been given an official mark, having finished eighth and fifth on her two starts to date.

The sweeping rule under which the BHA acted

Rule F (83) Powers of the Authority

83.1 The Authority may, if it considers it appropriate to do so
83.1.1 accept or refuse to accept any of the following in such circumstances as it may determine
83.1.1.1 any Scratching of a horse from a race,
83.1.1.2 any confirmation of entry in a race,
83.1.1.3 any declaration to run,
83.1.1.4 any declaration of Rider for a horse,
83.1.1.5 any alteration of any such Scratching, confirmation or declaration, or
83.1.1.6 any withdrawal of any such confirmation or declaration;
83.1.2 refuse to allow a horse duly entered to run in any race in such circumstances as the Authority may determine;
83.1.3 when accepting any such Scratching, declaration or confirmation, impose such restrictions or conditions as the Authority may determine.

Although the filly is still allowed to run, owner-breeder Richard Aylward is refusing to do so as Mangan would not be aboard.

Moore added: "Whether or not the horse should even be allowed to run with an experienced jockey on board is highly debatable, too. It is not quite like turning up at the start of the Formula One race driving a tractor, but it isn’t far off."

With Mangan having ridden one winner from 69 rides, Moore felt the pair would be ill-equipped to ride in the Classic, and could endanger other runners in the field.

"This is a dangerous game, as we unfortunately see far too often, and you simply couldn’t allow an inexperienced horse and rider to be placed into the situation that they would have been at Epsom on Saturday," he said.

"Who is to say what would have happened in front of a massive, worldwide TV audience? This is about welfare, plain and simple, and common sense has won out. So well done the BHA."

Derby card