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Racehorse trainers scrap plans to boycott TV interviews in humiliating climbdown – whereas Harry Redknapp suffers Cheltenham blow

  • Racehorse trainers had threatened to boycott conducting interviews for TV 
  • The Professional Racing Association were asking for a payment of £500,000
  • Peter Savill explained that the money would go to several benevolent causes 

The Professional Racing Association (PRA) have taken a humiliating climbdown and called off their threat for trainers to boycott TV interviews this weekend.

It has been a tumultuous four days for racing, all started by the PRA’s combative approach at the weekend when they made it clear that unless they received a £500,000 payment from television companies, co-operation with pre and post-race debriefs with reporters would be ceased.

Peter Savill, the influential figure behind the PRA, explained to Mail Sport on Sunday that the money would not be going directly to trainers and, instead, would be going to organisations such as the Injured Jockeys Fund and other benevolent causes.

This was at odds with the view of Dan Skelton, who is aiming to become National Hunt Champion Trainer for the first time this season. He went on record the same day and indicated his colleagues felt they were due financial recompense for their time in front of the cameras.

Savill, a former chairman of the British Horseracing Board, said he had emailed the 170 members of the PRA and received an “overwhelmingly supportive” response to stage a boycott but the organisation has subsequently come in for ferocious criticism.

The National Trainers Federation (NTF), who represent more than 400 trainers, could not get behind what the splinter group Savill and his PR advisor Nigel Payne had advocated and that has left the PRA in a situation where they look acutely embarrassed.

Racehorse trainers had threatened to boycott interviews unless they receive a £500,000 payment from broadcasters - pictured: Paul Nicholls

Racehorse trainers had threatened to boycott interviews unless they receive a £500,000 payment from broadcasters – pictured: Paul Nicholls

Dan Skelton told the Racing Post that the demand for trainers to be paid for interviews has significant support

Dan Skelton told the Racing Post that the demand for trainers to be paid for interviews has significant support

There was also a blow for Harry Redknapp whose horse The Jukebox Man picked up an injury

There was also a blow for Harry Redknapp whose horse The Jukebox Man picked up an injury

They had set a deadline of January 30 for Racecourse Media Group and Sky Sports Racing to come to the table and meet their demands but now trainers will be free to talk to ITV or Racing TV at Sandown, Musselburgh and Wetherby, the weekend’s main fixtures.

A statement from the PRA board said: ‘The PRA has decided to call off the withdrawal of trainer interviews this Saturday to avoid further public conflict between two organisations that are fundamentally aligned. We believe this is in the best interests of the sport.’

Meanwhile, Harry Redknapp has suffered a major blow after his best horse, The Jukebox Man, was ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival with an injury that has put an end to the novice chaser’s hugely exciting season.

The Jukebox Man had been a brilliant winner of the Kauto Star Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, prompting Redknapp to call him “the best I have ever owned”, and he was a strong fancy for the Browns Advisory Chase – the championship race over three miles for novices – in March.

But in a statement, trainer Ben Pauling said: ‘He sustained the injury during routine morning exercise. It is a huge blow for all involved and every care is being taken for one of our stable’s leading lights.’