Opposition on numbers

The new format for deciding the jockeys' title by prize money received another setback yesterday when Tattersalls said it would not be recognising it.

The Tattersalls Committee, which resolves disagreements between bookmakers and punters, declared that any betting disputes on the title will be determined by the number of winning rides and not prize money. Peter Guard, the committee's secretary, explai n ed: "A jockey could come over from Ireland and win the title with as few as 10 rides.''

The Jockeys Association changed its championship format, starting in the 1995 Flat season, to counter the risk of "burn out" among young riders.