AMATEUR jockeys have been barred from this year’s Cheltenham Festival due to Covid rules.
The British Horseracing Authority [BHA] placed a temporary ban on amateur riders back in January due to the UK government’s restrictions on grassroots sport.
And that lockdown ruling will not alter until March 29 at the earliest – ten days after the festival has finished.
The racing industry’s Covid-19 steering group, who are responsible for reviewing protocols, said the decision had been taken to stay ‘in line with Government restrictions.’
The National Hunt Chase, Kim Muir Handicap Chase and the St. James’s Place Hunters’ Chase are solely reserved for amateurs.
But there will be no amateurs taking part unless the Government have a sudden change of heart.
Jamie Codd, who’s registered ten Festival winners, described the ruling as both a ‘big blow’ and ‘hugely disappointing’.
Codd told the Racing Post: “For us qualified riders in Ireland, and the amateurs in England, it’s a huge blow.
“Cheltenham is where we really like to be competing and showcasing our status. It’s hugely disappointing, but the UK Government have their decision made and fingers crossed we can all get back for the hunter chase in Aintree.
“We’re in strange times, so we just have to dust ourselves off and there’s a lot of people worse off than us – that’s the way you have to look at it.
“With the restrictions that are in place, I don’t think I’ll be travelling over. We’ll probably sit at home and cheer Gordon’s horses on from there.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve missed Cheltenham and it’s been a very lucky hunting ground for me, but that’s the way it is and we’ll have to put up with it.”
Derek O’Connor, the most successful Irish point-to-point rider of all-time, added: “I would have hoped to have picked up rides in all the amateur races, and obviously it’s disappointing – but it’s just unfortunate.
“I suppose the most important thing is the Festival going ahead. If this is a small, little help to getting the Festival to go ahead trouble-free, it’s not a big ask.
“I hope we’ll be able to be back for Aintree, which is quite important as well. The hunter chases would be the biggest loss because those are the races that are most associated with amateur riders – the hunter chase in Cheltenham and the hunter chase in Aintree.
“Hopefully things will have settled down a bit by the time we get round to Aintree.
“I’ll have been going to Cheltenham for 17 or 18 years, but I’ll be sat at home watching it on the television this year. Hopefully the meeting can go ahead trouble-free, and with no bad press, which is very important.”
SEE OVER £2000 IN FREE BETS HERE
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to SE. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
