Why are punters prioritised over owners on baffling aspect to whip rules?

There was an interesting and rather worrying subplot to the Coral Gold Cup at the end of last month.

Le Milos edged out Remastered in a high-octane and thoroughly enjoyable race but it was later decided by the stewards that winning rider Harry Skelton had broken the current whip rules. And, as we're just two months away from the full introduction of new whip rules over jumps that would see disqualification on the table for breaches of the rules, a common question I have heard being asked since Newbury is, 'What would have happened under the new whip rules?'.

The answer is that Le Milos would have been mighty close to being thrown out – even though the possibility that Skelton had broken the rules did not cross my mind at all when watching the race and I didn't think there was anything offensive about the ride at all. I also got the impression most other people watching the race agreed with me.