Elliott and Cromwell looking at legal avenue following HRI move

The country’s four leading jumps trainers are deeply unhappy with the move to exclude them from certain races as and from January 1st next..

Ireland’s top 4 jumps trainers are considering legal action against Horse Racing Ireland in response to the recently announced initiative that would result in 60 races in the calendar being confined to trainers who have saddled fewer than 50 winners in the code in either of the previous two seasons.

The proposal, which was supported by the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association, is scheduled to begin on January 1st and would exclude local trainers Gordon Elliott and Gavin Cromwell, as well as Willie Mullins and Henry deBromhead from entering horses in the races covered under the scheme.

The scheme will include bumpers, maiden hurdles, beginners’ chases and handicap hurdles. 

It’s also-set to incorporate a series of 17 races which identifies opportunities for trainers with defined levels of success over previous seasons.

According to the Racing Post, a letter was sent to HRI earlier this week, informing Irish racing’s governing body of an intention to initiate legal proceedings over the series. 

The HRI declined to comment to the newspaper.