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Paul Nicholls reveals stable jockey Lorcan Williams could miss Cheltenham due to a whip rules breach

TAUNTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 08: Paul Nicholls studies the racecard at Taunton Racecourse on December 08, 2022 in Taunton, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

BRITISH HORSE TRAINER Paul Nicholls has revealed that he is worried that his jockey Lorcan Williams won't be able to ride in the upcoming Cheltenham Festival because of Williams' alleged violation of the new whip rules at Haydock on Saturday,

Williams prevailed on Makin'yourmindup last weekend in the Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices' Hurdle, but Nicholls thinks the rider violated the whip rule in the process during the race.

A stricter penalty system for violations, starting with a four-day suspension for going over the allowed seven strikes, was established last Monday in regard to the use of the whip.

Nicholls has hinted that William's may have gone above the limit. The rider is expecting a 16-day layoff under the new rules, according to the champion trainer.

Williams would not be eligible for Cheltenham if the jockey's fears come true because any punishment would have to wait until the whip review committee meets on Tuesday to be verified, and since suspensions are started seven days after they are announced.

Nicholl's speaking to Betfair said, "I think Lorcan (Williams) has got himself into some hot water under these new whip rules. My understanding and his understanding is it's got to be confirmed on Tuesday when this Whip Review meets, he thought he was going to get 16 days and rule him out of Cheltenham, which is tough really.

📓 𝗣𝗔𝗨𝗟'𝗦 𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗥𝗬

🗣 Betfair ambassador @PFNicholls spoke to @BetfairBarry about a

A tidy 4-timer for the yard on Saturday!
But, Lorcan Williams could potentially, get a 16 day ban when the whip review committee meet on Tuesday! pic.twitter.com/ztd64Gkzi2

— Betfair Racing (@BetfairRacing) February 20, 2023

"It's one of those situations where he said if he hadn't given him a couple of cracks then he wouldn't have won, what was he to do, drop his hands and get beat? This is where there's a grey area and it's difficult. I don't know what the outcome is, but it looks like he might have to sit out of Cheltenham, which is terribly sad. "

The trainer has also warned other jockeys to be careful as violating the rules would mean that their chances of competing at this year's flagship racing event would be over.

On that, Harry (Cobden) and everyone has got to be careful up to and including this weekend because if you get in trouble this is where you could miss Cheltenham, or days there. Into the following week, with the structure of whip reviews and dates, they'd be okay with Cheltenham, so everyone has to be careful this week. I've already stressed to Harry that he has to be careful because we don't want him missing Cheltenham because that would be an absolute disaster for absolutely everybody involved. These new whip rules are going to cause a headache, I can see that.

The 2023 Cheltenham Festival will run from Tuesday, March 14 to Friday, March 17. The meeting is run over four days with seven races on each day, so 28 in total. The first race of each day will be due off at 1:30pm with the last run at 5:30pm.