Kavanagh wrong to dismiss Mullins idea

In response to Tony Mullins’ suggestion of curbing the monopoly of big owners in major handicaps by limiting their runners, I found Horse Racing Ireland CEO Brian Kavanagh’s rejection of the proposal disappointing. To then imply everything is hunky dory on the back of Ireland’s success at Cheltenham is putting one’s head in the sand.

I'm not saying the Mullins suggestion is necessarily the correct one to aid the smaller trainer, but at least it is a suggestion, and the more we hear the better because, contrary to Kavanagh’s belief, Irish jump racing is at a very difficult crossroads.

There is simply not enough competition and it will have less and less appeal to the average racegoer unless something is done by the authorities.