It’s possible prominent runners have a slight "advantage" over all, but only slight.
I wouldn’t even go that far, Ginge.
Is it not more likely that a front runner stands more chance of idling or getting tired, making a few more cracks of the whip more useful to those types, as opposed to hold up horses? I think that makes far more sense, personally.
Agreed Onthesteal, those who idle might be inconvenienced (slightly) by the new whip rules. Some could be front runners, but most horses who idle are those who don’t like being in front. Therefore, they are more likely to be hold up horses than prominent runners. ie Most idlers in my experience are "hold up horses" who hit the front on the run-in.
Although am convinced with some "idlers" it is more about crowd noise. Horses being put off by crowd noise when there are no horses to chase. This type could be either prominent or hold up horses. Ear plugs should be more generally used in my opinion.