The Jockey Club today revealed it is to act to clarify the newly extended 'keep straight rule', following recent criticism.
David Nicholls and Milton Bradley, both renowned for their handing of sprinters, are two trainers who have challenged the new ruling, which came into effect for all races which do not start on a bend on July 1.
They both claim that horses with unfavourable draws who need holding up are given little chance in a race if they have to keep to their draw for the first 110 yards.
However Malcolm Wallace, director of regulations at the Jockey Club, stressed: 'If a horse dwells at the start through design or otherwise then that horse is allowed to tack across behind the other runners.
'But if a horse is in the front rank then that horse can`t tack across until it reaches the marker which is set half a furlong from the start.
'We have faxed Mr Nicholls and told him he could tack across with a horse which needs holding up and now Mr Bradley has the same information.' Wallace believes the grievances are isolated.
He said: 'We`ve had no contact with the National Trainers Federation and if there was general concern the NTF would have reacted.
'The rule has been well tried for the last four years on the all-weather and the amount of interference and accidents has been markedly reduced.
'Senior jockeys Pat Eddery and Richard Quinn have both said that it makes it safer for jockeys and horses.
'The rule was introduced for safety reasons and we are just falling in line with all other major turf authorities.
'We will be reproducing the rule in next week`s Racing Calendar to clarify the matter.'
