Top jockey Richard Hughes has failed in his appeal to the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to overturn a 50-day ban incurred in India.

Hughes was suspended in February for reportedly not riding to instructions in a race in Mumbai, an offence that is not punishable under British rules.

The BHA chose to recognise the ban and upheld that decision at an appeal.

The Irishman will not be able to compete in Britain until 30 April, when the Mumbai season finishes.

It has dented the 39-year-old’s hopes of winning a first jockeys’ championship.

Hughes missed a big victory at Newmarket on Wednesday when Esentepe won the Nell Gwyn Stakes.

The

jockey said on Twitter

that he was bemused by the ban, and disappointed not to win the appeal.

“I thought I could have confidence in the UK system on fairness,” he said.

“BHA has backed an opinion that I did not let a horse run on its merits without any evidence.”

Jamie Stier, the director of raceday operations and regulation for the BHA, said he felt some sympathy for Hughes but believed it was correct to uphold the suspension imposed by the Royal Western India Turf Club.

“We would like to register on record that we recognise the frustration felt by Richard Hughes about this episode,” he said.

Disappointed on losing appeal. Still don’t know why I’m banned

Jockey Richard Hughes on Twitter

“The BHA stands behind the principle of reciprocity of penalties among recognised international racing bodies. Without reciprocity, there is a risk of there being no effective measures to deter visiting participants from breaching the rules of the respective authority.

“Similar applications to those lodged by Richard Hughes are, thankfully, few and far between.

“However, we will be looking to see if there are any lessons to learn that may assist the handling of such matters in the future.”

Hughes spent winters in India for much of his career and enjoyed success there, winning all four Classics on the filly Jacqueline in 2009 and 2010.

However, he has vowed not to return after a troubled stay earlier in the year. In January he was given a lengthy suspension for “foul riding”, which was reduced to a fine on appeal.

Hughes has never won the British title but pushed Paul Hanagan all the way to the last day of the season in 2010.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport/0/horse-racing/17543978

Trainer Malcolm Jefferson believes bigger fences at the Grand National could have saved his horse According to Pete, who died after Saturday’s race.

Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Synchronised also had to be put down.

The deaths have led to calls for more modifications to the Aintree course.

But Jefferson said: “They can’t carry on making changes. In my eyes the fences should be bigger to slow them down. If they were a foot higher Pete would still have jumped them.”

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We fully appreciate that all horse sport carries risks, but there are acceptable risks and unacceptable risks and it doesn’t appear as if that balance is right

Roly Owers
World Horse Welfare chief executive

An extensive review was carried out following the race 12 months ago when two horses also died.

Changes were made to the course, including reducing the drop on the landing side of Becher’s Brook, where According to Pete fell. He was put down after suffering a fractured leg.

Jefferson added: “Now they are trying to please everybody and you can’t. People say make the field smaller, but what if next year another two die? Then they’ll want 20 runners.

“Watering to ensure softer ground might help. There was a lot of carry-on after last year’s race and I just wish they’d stop trying to please everyone because you can’t. It was just a freak accident.”

The British Horseracing Authority’s chief executive Paul Bittar will meet with animal welfare groups next week to discuss the Grand National.

Charity World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers said: “Racing must understand that the public can no longer stomach almost regular deaths in this high-profile race.

“We fully appreciate, as should everyone, that all horse sport carries risks, but there are acceptable risks and unacceptable risks and it doesn’t appear as if that balance is right in the Grand National.”

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Neptune Collonges wins Grand National – race in full

http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport/0/horse-racing/17735723

A 1m prize fund is being offered in an attempt to secure a clash between two unbeaten stars of international flat racing – Frankel and Black Caviar.

Goodwood Racecourse and sponsors Qipco are offering to increase the purse for the Sussex Stakes on 1 August from 300,000 should both horses run.

Frankel, trained in Newmarket by Sir Henry Cecil, has triumphed in his nine starts including last year’s 2,000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes.

Black Caviar has won all 19 races in her native Australia and could run in Europe during the summer.

Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, who helps run Qatar-based investment firm Qipco, said he hoped the financial incentive would help lure the pair to the one-mile Group One race at Goodwood.

“In their respective home countries, Frankel and Black Caviar have ignited levels of public interest matched only by true champions of the past,” he said.

“The sport is blessed to have two such outstanding horses competing at the same time and consequently we felt it would be remiss not to make every effort to try to bring about the race everyone wants to see.

“The Sussex Stakes is arguably the only realistic chance of the two horses meeting, and we are delighted to make the gesture of increasing the prize fund to 1m as an incentive to the connections of both horses to run at Goodwood.”

Frankel has won six races over a mile (eight furlongs), whereas Black Caviar has yet to try the distance and has run mainly over five and six furlongs, with one victory at seven.

Black Caviar, trained by Peter Moody, could run in the six-furlong Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Frankel is expected to sep up in trip from a mile later in the season and Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, said the Goodwood prize fund would not affect where the horse ran.

“If we were to stay at a mile then running in the Sussex Stakes is a possibility, but I’m afraid the extra prize money is not going to influence any decisions,” he

told the Guardian.

The Sussex Stakes is part of the Glorious Goodwood meeting and the British Champions Series, which aims to broaden the appeal of flat racing in the UK.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport/0/horse-racing/17617655

Sir Alex Ferguson is poised for a return to Scotland in search of another piece of top sporting silverware – at the Scottish Grand National.

The horse he part owns, Harry The Viking, is a likely runner after the Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old was named among the entries.

Manchester United are in action the following day against Everton.

So the United manager may well be at Ayr to cheer on his horse in the 180,000 race on Saturday, 21 April.

But there will be stiff competition, with some of the country’s top chasers featuring among the 62 entries.

Sir Alex could be at Ayr to cheer on his horse

Nicky Henderson has five possible runners, including Burton Port, who was fourth at the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and David Pipe has entered one of the Grand National favourites, Junior, and also The Package, owned by David Johnson.

Cheltenham’s JLT Speciality Chase winner, Alfie Sherrin, from Jonjo O’Neill’s yard, and Hennessey Gold Cup winner Carruthers are entered, as is the 2010 winner of the race and last year’s runner-up, Merigo.

Notable Scottish-trained entries other than Merigo include Lucinda Russell pair Red Harbour and Etxalar, Willie Amos’s Lie Forrit, Abbeybraney, from George Bewley’s yard and the James Ewart-trained Captain Americo.

The chief supporting race on Scottish Grand National Saturday, the Isle of Skye Blended Whisky Scottish Champion Hurdle, has attracted 34 entries.

They include Tetlami, Petit Robin and Kid Cassidy, all trained by Henderson, Donald McCain’s Desert Cry and Red Merlin, Raya Star from Alan King’s stable and the Nicholls-trained Prospect Wells and Brampour.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport/0/horse-racing/17616990

The BBC has TV, radio and website coverage of the 2012 Grand National meeting at Aintree from 12 to 14 April.

Millions of people around the world will follow the big race, which is due off at 1615 BST on Saturday 14 April.

On Thursday 12 April, 5 Live Racing will come from Liverpool from 1930 to 2100, with a panel of experts plus interviews with those getting ready for the National.

There will be updates from the course during 5 live’s breakfast programme from 0600 to 0900 each day, with more news and reaction in the evening programmes.

The

BBC Sport website

will have live video (for UK users) of the 15 races on BBC TV, archive Aintree action plus live text commentary on Grand National day.

The site will have a handy guide to the National runners and riders, along with the popular online office sweepstake kit, top tips and all the latest racing results. BBC TV coverage will be available for seven days to watch on the BBC iPlayer.

You can also follow the latest news throughout the meeting from BBC correspondent

Cornelius Lysaght

and website racing expert

Honest Frank

on Twitter.

Races in bold on TV and BBC Sport website (for UK users). Races marked with an asterisk on BBC Radio 5 live. All times BST. Times and channels are subject to change.

Some red button coverage may not be available on Freeview – further details here

GRAND NATIONAL MEETING SCHEDULE

Thursday 12 April

BBC Two, 1340-1635