British racing’s leadership in disarray after Lord Allen delays arrival at top

The administration of British racing appeared to be in disarray on Friday following confirmation by the British Horseracing Authority that Lord Charles Allen, who was due to take over as the BHA’s new permanent chair in three days’ time, will delay his arrival to an unspecified date in order to “better inform his vision for the sport”.

In a brief statement, the BHA said: “Since Lord Allen was named as the new chair of the BHA last November, he has engaged in an extensive round of meetings with stakeholders to develop a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the issues facing the sport.

“The BHA can today confirm that Lord Allen will not now start on June 2 as he wishes to continue meeting stakeholders to better inform his vision for the sport and he looks forward to starting his new role once these have concluded.”

Lord Allen, whose business career prior to becoming a life peer in 2013 included senior roles with Granada TV, EMI, Virgin Media and Endemol, was also a member of the bid team which secured the 2012 Olympics for London, and chair of the Manchester Commonwealth Games from 2000 to 2003.

Lord Allen was described as “a candidate whose record speaks for itself” by David Jones, the chair of the BHA’s Nominations Committee, when his appointment was announced seven months ago.

Dissenting voices soon emerged among some stakeholders, however, most notably when Ralph Beckett, a former president of the National Trainers’ Federation (NTF), told the organisation’s annual meeting in March that Lord Allen did not have an obvious background in the sport and that “anybody going into that role is not going to grasp hold of the role straight away”, adding: “it takes time in the role and we don’t have time.”

At the heart of concerns among trainers, owners and other racing professionals – whose views are represented by the Thoroughbred Group (TG) – is a long-standing conviction that the balance of power in the industry is tilted heavily towards racecourses.

A new governance structure for the sport which was introduced in 2022 aimed to shift ultimate authority in significant decisions towards the BHA, but the TG remains sceptical over the extent to which racecourses are returning a fair amount of their income to participants in prize money.

The apparent implication of Friday’s announcement is that Lord Allen concurs with Beckett’s critique in March and needs more time to get to grips with the industry’s overall structure and factional internal politics. The concern for the BHA is that he will ultimately conclude that the role is a poisoned chalice and better left untouched.

Volterra can prove an each-way steal

Audience, the narrow favourite for the John of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock on Saturday, registered wins at both Group One and Group Two level last year, but he has been well below form over six furlongs on his last two starts and makes little appeal at around 7-2 for what could be a strong renewal of this Group Three contest.

Owen Burrows’s Alyanaabi, successful over course and distance last time, and the evergreen Kinross, the winner of this race four years ago, both have strong claims, but at longer odds, Kevin Ryan’s Volterra (3.33) is an interesting each-way alternative at around 16-1.

The four-year-old is stepping up from handicaps to take on seasoned Group-race performers, but was a winner first time up last season, has just eight races in the book and stormed clear of a deep field in the style of a fast-improving colt on his final start at three.

Haydock 1.48 The lightly raced four-year-olds Durham Castle and Fine Interview head the betting and both have scope for significant progress through the handicap ranks this term. Hamad Al Jehani’s gelding has had a run already, however, and that could tip the balance in his favour here.

Chester 2.10 A double-figure draw is never ideal here but Yanifer, in 10, was a winner from stall 12 over this trip last summer, when Never So Brave, the early 3-1 favourite for this race, was behind him in seventh. Never So Brave has since been gelded and switched to Andrew Balding, but he has been off the course for 239 days and 10-1 about Yanifer is too big.

Haydock 2.23 Jasour ran in four consecutive Group Ones after a successful seasonal debut last year and while his form tailed off after finishing sixth in the July Cup, he returns after a wind operation with an obvious chance dropping in grade.

York 2.40 All 13 runners have an each-way chance at least but Kodiac Thriller was a comfortable winner at Thirsk earlier this month and William Pyle’s 3lb claim could tip the balance his way.

Haydock 2.58 Two of the last three winners of this Group Three have gone on to win at Group One level later in the campaign and the impeccably-bred Shaha promises to be a filly to follow after a comfortable success at Goodwood last time.

York 3.15 Term Of Endearment, last year’s winner of this race, went through the ring for 1.3m gns (£1.37m) in the autumn and remains relatively lightly raced for a six-year-old. This looks an ideal contest to register a first success for her new trainer, William Haggas.