CLAISSE SURPRISE AT HURDLES CRITICISM Criticism of British hurdles has come as a surprise to Simon Claisse, clerk on the course at Cheltenham. Middleham trainer Ferdy Murphy described the obstacles currently used as 'barbaric' in a report in today`s Racing Post and his call for the introduction of French-style hurdles has the backing of fellow trainers Jonjo O`Neill and Len Lungo. However Claisse was taken aback by the criticism and said today: 'I was on a review group that the Jockey Club ran two or three years ago with representatives of trainers and jockeys and the view was, on balance, that the existing hurdles with improvements was the safest option. 'There have always been a number of trainers who prefer brush hurdles but it seems to make sense to have the design of obstacle that is common to all courses. 'If the majority is to keep the one that falls down then that makes good sense, but if there was a change of opinion in general then it might make sense to change it.' Claisse feels there is no evidence to suggest that brush hurdles are safer than those currently used. He said: 'The experiment with the brush hurdles at Wolverhampton and Southwell did not indicate there were fewer fallers or injuries.' But Claisse added that he would go along with the majority view, remarking: 'If things change and trainers and jockeys as a group say this is what we would rather have then that is what we would end up doing.' Worcester racecourse expects to have the brush hurdles installed for its fixture on March 16 while Haydock Park and Market Rasen are looking into the possibility of using them as well.
