Jumps review brought forward

Racing Victoria has brought forward its review of jumps racing in the state following Saturday's disastrous Grand National Hurdle at Flemington.

The review will be conducted immediately, Racing Victoria confirmed, rather than at the completion of the current jumps season.

The review will be completed by mid-August in time to be discussed at an RVL Board meeting in September.

Jumps racing has been in the spotlight recently due to a string of horse fatalities, the two most recent coming in last Saturday's Grand National Hurdle where just four of the 13 horses completed the course.

Victorian Minister for Racing Rob Hulls wrote to Racing Victoria chairman Michael Duff last month requesting an 'urgent update' from the state racing body on whether safety measures implemented over the past five years have improved horse and rider safety.

Victoria and South Australia are the only states in Australia to conduct jumps racing.