The Jim Best saga seems set to rumble on, with attempts for his wife, Suzie, to be granted a trainer’s licence by Monday far from certain to be successful.
After Best was suspended from training for six months, it emerged on Wednesday that his wife had applied for a licence, with the intention that she could prevent a break in the flow of runners sent out by the stable. However, it would be unusual for a licence to be pushed through so quickly, with a typical application taking up to two months to process.
In 2009, Elaine Burke attempted to secure a licence after her husband, Karl, was disqualified for a year. She was initially turned down by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), only gaining a licence towards the end of the following year, once her husband’s ban had expired. Best’s legal team stated that it will seek a high-court injunction if the BHA does not allow a smooth transition from Best to his wife. This affair appears to have further to run.
● Nico de Boinville will not return to ride Coneygree in the 32Red King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day after specialists said his broken arm needs more time to heal.