Ruby Walsh to miss British rides in whip row

Walsh's ban was reported to have caused anger among his colleagues

Top Irish jockey Ruby Walsh has ruled out riding at two British meetings in a row over controversial new whip rules.

Walsh was given a five-day ban at Aintree in Saturday after he was deemed to have exceeded the eight-strike limit over jumps when winning on Edgardo Sol.

The 32-year-old said he will not risk a further ban by riding at Chepstow on Tuesday and Wetherby on Friday.

"Every ride I take in the UK from now on has to be seriously calculated. It has to be worth the risk," he said.

Walsh said he would look at the declarations before deciding whether to ride in Saturday's Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, in which he is due to partner Poquelin for champion British trainer Paul Nicholls.

"I'm facing a 10-day suspension the next time I offend. I didn't offend on purpose yesterday and I won't be offending on purpose ever again," he told At The Races.

"In the UK for the prize money that's there, it's not worth the risk. I've got too many commitments to [Irish trainer] Willie Mullins and Paul Nicholls to be doing that.

"The rules are well regulated here in Ireland. They are discretionary and common sense is used.

"I think that is the bit that is missing in England. Common sense seems to have gone out of the window."

Tougher new rules restrict jockeys in Britain to using the whip seven times in flat races and eight over jumps.

On Saturday Walsh struck his mount nine times, one above the new maximum, in the two-mile handicap chase which he won by a nose from The Cockney Mackem.

A day earlier, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) had agreed to some amendments of the new rules but many riders remain unhappy with the penalties, and the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) was forced to call on its members not to take strike action.

On Sunday, PJA chief executive Kevin Darley said the regulations should be re-examined.

"The penalties are horrendous. Jockeys are trying to remain competitive and that is what they are struggling with," said the former champion flat jockey.

"We have got to find a number that we think as horsemen should be the limit. We need to find a number that is acceptable.

"It is not acting as a deterrent because jockeys are still getting banned so we really need to look at these rules again."