OpinionAlan Sweetman
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Ireland's jumps superpowers are still miles ahead of the pack - and it's time for action to cure the stark imbalance

Only 29 trainers have reached double figures this season - that's a hugely concerning statistic

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Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott: another title showdown on the cards
Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott: the two trainers remain dominant in the Irish jumps scene Credit: Patrick McCann

It's been another momentous campaign for Irish jump racing – yet one nagging concern about the state of the sport remains.

Last season, just 27 trainers managed to get to a double-figure number of winners for the season. This season that stands at 29, out of nearly 500 to have had a runner. Clearly there has been no great narrowing of the massive gulf separating the powerhouse stables from the remainder.

The stark imbalance, which has caused simmering unease for many years, was officially acknowledged last July when Horse Racing Ireland proposed a series of 60 races restricted to trainers with fewer than 50 winners in either of the two previous seasons.

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Published on inAlan Sweetman

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