• Jockey rules herself out of riding Kaspersky for Jane Chapple-Hyam • Trainer defends Payne: ‘If it was a bloke, there wouldn’t have been the drama’

Michelle Payne remains too ill to contemplate a quick return to the saddle and has ruled herself out of riding Kaspersky in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury on Saturday. The Australian jockey had hoped to take the ride as some sort of consolation for missing out on last Saturday’s Shergar Cup at Ascot and was planning to partner Kaspersky in his final piece of fast work in Newmarket on Tuesday morning.

But the 31-year-old decided early on Monday afternoon that she was not recovering fast enough to continue with those plans. “She’s just been in touch to say she’s not 100%,” said Jane Chapple-Hyam, who, in addition to being trainer of Kaspersky, is a fellow Australian and friend of Payne. “Martin Harley will ride the horse.

“It’s a pity she can’t do it but what will be will be,” the trainer continued. Payne rode Kaspersky at Royal Ascot in June, when the pair exceeded expectations to finish fifth of 16 in the Queen Anne at odds of 66-1.

Chapple-Hyam suggested there had been too much coverage of Payne’s early departure from a pre-Shergar Cup media event in London last Thursday, when the jockey spent hours with the press but eventually complained of feeling ill and returned to her hotel against the wishes of Ascot staff. “I just think things get exaggerated,” Chapple-Hyam said.

Talking Horses: Michelle Payne out of the Shergar Cup through illness Read more

“Three hours is a long time and, if you’re not feeling well and you’ve done your duties, there’s no reason why you can’t disappear. If it was a bloke, there wouldn’t have been so much drama. Her brother-in-law [Kerrin McEvoy, who made no appearance at the media event] was ill as well and you don’t see his picture on the front page.”

Of Kaspersky’s chance on Saturday Chapple-Hyam said: “He’s dropping back a furlong, which is always a worry, but it’s a hard seven furlongs at Newbury; it’s testing enough.” The trainer is encouraged by the possibility of some cut in the ground. “A lot of his Italian form was on soft.”

Breton Rock and Librisa Breeze are among the most high-profile possibles for what could prove a winnable Hungerford. A total of 22 horses stood their ground at the latest entry stage

No-hopers lining up in the Derby and other major races should become a thing of the past following a decision by the British Horseracing Authority to introduce a minimum rating for entry into nearly all top-class races. From January horses will have to be worth a rating of 80 at least to run at the highest level on the Flat, with the sole exception of two-year-old races. Similar provisions will apply to the best jump races, except for novice hurdles.

The new rule was already being discussed by officials in early June when there was a storm of controversy around the planned participation in the Derby of Diore Lia. The filly, who eventually missed the Classic with a pulled muscle, would have fallen short of the new rating criterion by about two stones. The BHA said that quarrel gave a new focus to their talks on a subject which had been raised anew by the Professional Jockeys Association early in the year.

The BHA’s racing development director, Ruth Quinn, said: “Introducing a minimum rating for these races has three clear benefits. Firstly, it will help protect the welfare of the human and equine participants in our major races by reducing the risk that comes with inferior horses competing against far superior opponents.

“Secondly, it will ensure that the risk of unsatisfactory results in these races is reduced by taking out the unknown factor and complications that can be caused in-running by an inferior horse. Finally, it will help preserve the reputation and public perception of our top races as crown-jewel events, ensuring the focus can remain on these races identifying and celebrating our sport’s champions.”

On the BHA’s agenda on Tuesday is an application by the jockey Rab Havlin, banned by the French authorities over a drugs test in circumstances in which he insists he could not possibly have been positive. Havlin will ask the BHA not to reciprocate the remainder of the six-month ban, which has only six weeks to run. Surprisingly, the BHA has opened the hearing to reporters, possibly signalling a wish to be more open about disciplinary matters in future.on Monday.

Chris Cook’s tips for Tuesday

Thirsk

2.00 Vera Drake 2.30 Placebo Effect 3.00 Nathalie 3.30 Perfect Words 4.00 Gaelic Wizard 4.30 Rosy Ryan 5.00 Eyreborn (nb) 5.30 Ticks The Boxes

Ffos Las

2.15 Fastnet Spin 2.45 Isle Of Man 3.15 Liva 3.45 Ancient Longing 4.15 Bianca Minola 4.45 Moabit 5.15 Prussian Eagle

Nottingham

4.55 Mamnoon 5.25 Hermana Santa 5.55 Perfect Clarity 6.25 The Twisler (nap) 6.55 Kyllang Rock 7.25 Sitar 7.55 Fantasy Justifier

Chelmsford

5.40 Jive Lady 6.10 Mimram 6.40 Oxford Blu 7.10 War Department 7.40 Mazzini 8.10 Golden Goal 8.40 Line Of Beauty