Australian whip controversy raises concerns as Cheltenham looms for Irish riders

There is no getting away from the whip debate – and it is not just confined to Britain.

In Australia last Saturday a six-furlong sprint caused a huge furore when stewards objected to Blake Shinn's ride aboard My Yankee Girl, who dead-heated for first with Invincible Caviar.

The rules are a little different in Australia, where jockeys are instructed to use the whip on no more than five occasions before the final half-furlong, after which they can use it at their discretion. Shinn was deemed to have used the whip 12 times before the 100-metre mark, thus going over the limit by seven.