Dangerous riding rules aren't fit for purpose - as John Berry case will show

I let out a small groan last week when I read that trainer John Berry's appeal against a controversial result at Pontefract had been delayed to allow the Professional Jockeys Association to instruct lawyers to act on behalf of rival jockey Kevin Stott.

I groaned because the odds have got even bigger against Berry. The decision I firmly expect the panel to make will be legally sound, in keeping with the rules of racing and the precedents laid down in similar judgements. But it won't be right.

As Chris Cook reported in his Front Runner email last week, the PJA has got in the lawyers because Berry's case will surely depend on the panel finding Stott to be guilty of dangerous riding in allowing his mount, Wynford, to drift left into Faye McManoman on Dereham. Berry has chosen not to reciprocate, feeling the outcome shouldn't depend on who has the best lawyer.