If one cloud hung over an otherwise triumphant Cheltenham, it was the eternal controversy of the whip. After five bans were imposed on the final day, senior racing officials have convened an urgent meeting with all concerned parties in a bid to prevent a dangerous escalation of the issue. Stricter penalties could be introduced immediately.

The fear of the authorities is that the whip will become a political vehicle, even a potential vote-winner for those who campaign for its abolition. One parliamentary motion has already been tabled and William Nunneley, the stipendiary steward at the Festival, warned: “It is the public image of the sport that is at risk - and, if the jockeys won't listen to us, it will be taken out of our hands.”

Tony McCoy was among those suspended on a hectic Friday for the stewards and it is hoped he will be among those to attend a gathering that will take place prior to the Grand National meeting. Veterinary and welfare officers will also be present.

Despite the rash of bans, which also included six days each for Ruby Walsh and Robert Thornton, there is no suggestion that horses are being abused. Modern whips are specially designed to absorb shock and Nunneley confirmed: “Veterinary examinations showed that no horse had been marked or harmed.”

The problem is one of perception. Paul Struthers, communications officer of the British Horseracing Authority, explained: “There is growing unrest in the wider world over the use of the whip. We fielded calls from the public several times during Cheltenham.

“Within racing, we know about the shock-absorbing whips and we understand what Cheltenham means to jockeys. But victory cannot come at the expense of racing itself. Despite what some might think, it's not the suspensions that draw attention to the matter but the excessive use itself.

“People might think we are being over dramatic but we are not at all. In this day and age, the public won't tolerate what it perceives to be abuse. I would expect amendments - either to the rules or penalties or both - to be made when we meet.”