THE British Horseracing Authority says it has no plans to place restrictions on the number of runners trainers can field in top-class handicaps.

It was leaked before Christmas that the BHA was consulting with industry stakeholders on the possible introduction of a limit for races such as the Grand National. Both Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott had five runners in the Aintree race last year.

The issue was back in the news in mid-November when Elliott saddled 14 of the 20 runners in the Troytown Chase at Navan.

However, on Wednesday morning the BHA issued the following statement: "On occasion the BHA will seek views of industry participants on a range of issues.

“In this case, prompted in part by the situation where one trainer saddled 14 of the 20 runners in the Troytown Chase in Ireland, we gathered opinions on a topic which is sometimes debated across the sport, regarding potentially imposing a limit on the number of runners one trainer can run in a major handicap. The issue was discussed in the context of sustaining the sport’s ongoing appeal to customers.

“Having considered the feedback and discussed the matter at the sport’s Commercial Committee and BHA Board it has been agreed not to take any immediate action in regards to this matter, but to keep the issue under review.”

A number of commentators had opined that trainers and owners could easily get around any limit on the number of runners they could have in a big race by transferring the horses into other yards a week or two before the race.