Racing open to more direct protests in campaign against affordability checks

• New CEO hails ‘Axe the Tax’ revolt in previous battle

• Dunshea surprised by RSPCA comments on welfare

The chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority, Brant Dunshea, has revealed that the sport will consider more direct action protests as they continue to battle against government plans to introduce affordability tests for punters.

A one-day strike last September that led to four scheduled meetings being cancelled played a pivotal role in the government abandoning plans to increase the tax on betting from 15% to 21%, which the BHA estimated would have cost £330m to the industry.