John Hales calls for action over new whip rules

Leading owner John Hales has urged the horse racing authorities to act after the new whip rules looked set to deny the Shropshire racing public a clash of the county's two rising National Hunt stars tomorrow.

Bangor was due to host an intriguing novice chase clash between Champion Hurdle runner up Peddlers Cross and Hales' Cheltenham Festival winner Al Ferof.

But Cosford businessman Hales looks certain to withdraw his Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner because Ruby Walsh – stable jockey to champion trainer Paul Nicholls who was due to ride Al Ferof – is serving the last of a five-day ban.

"We want Ruby to ride Al Ferof in his first race over fences it looks like we will go to Cheltenham on Sunday," said Hales.

Hales admitted he had been left bewildered by the new whip rules which have seen the likes of Walsh and champion jockey AP McCoy pick up controversial bans after stewards adjudged them to have exceeded the limit for the amount of times they can hit a horse.

"As a family we have been involved in horses for many years, from show-jumping to racing and we would not tolerate jockey abusing our horses," he added.

"We have never had any reason to object to the way that either AP or Ruby have ridden our horses. Common sense has got to prevail because the new whip rules just aren't working."

Al Ferof's absence means Peddlers Cross, owned by Telford businessman Tim Leslie, will be favourite to make a winning debut over fences at Bangor.

"It's fantastic that Donald (McCain, trainer) has brought the runner up in the Champion hurdle here and I'm sure the appearance of Peddlers Cross will guarantee a very good racing crowd," said Bangor's general manager Jeannie Chantler.