Minor parties Country Alliance and Moyne Shire mayor James Purcell’s Vote 1 Local Jobs have united to take on the Greens-led push to have the sport banned once and for all.

It promises to be a bloody battle.

Jumps racing has been shored up recently thanks to the unwavering support of local state member and Premier Denis Napthine.

Dr Napthine is a strong advocate for racing in general and in his portfolio as Racing Minister has not wasted an opportunity to speak out in favour of the jumps, a sport he genuinely loves.

However, if Labor wins the election then jumps racing will have lost its main champion and its future will once again become uncertain.

Long used to defending itself against allegations of cruelty the industry needs strong support at top levels of government to ensure its longevity and, although Labor has not indicated that it will ban the sport if it gains power, it will come under intense pressure to do so from inner-city lobby groups who neither understand it nor see any value in it.

Greens MP Sue Pennicuik last week told State Parliament that Animal Liberation, the RSPCA and the Humane Society International were vehemently opposed to jumps racing which she described as a blight on Victoria.

But horse owner Mr Purcell, who is vying for a spot in the upper house in November, and Country Alliance upper house candidate Garry Kerr have accused the Greens of having an extreme view that needs to be tackled head-on.

From the south-west’s point of view, their support for the jumps in the upper house may prove invaluable.

If the Coalition loses in November, theirs may well be the only dissenting political voices against a rising tide of anti-jumps rhetoric that may prove irresistible to a new Labor premier.

It is the last thing the sport needs right now, but another fight for survival might be just around the corner.