Following its most recent race on 9 April 2017, BAD BOY, which at that time was trained by J Moore, was required to barrier trial satisfactorily due to an unacceptable performance.  BAD BOY subsequently barrier trialed on 25 April 2017 and passed that trial carrying blinkers and accordingly the Stewards ruled that BAD BOY was required to race in blinkers at its next race start.

BAD BOY was subsequently transferred to Trainer M J Freedman who has barrier trialed the horse on two occasions.  At its second trial on 7 November 2017, BAD BOY was successful when wearing Sheepskin Cheek Pieces.  In the circumstances, the Stewards have approved for BAD BOY to carry Sheepskin Cheek Pieces in this race rather than blinkers as was advertised after the horse trialed on 25 April 2017.