Timmons In Trouble

I was watching the racing from Bangor yesterday afternoon and was horrified to see Christopher Timmons stop riding aboard 4/1 second favourite Jeanry in the closing stages of the handicap hurdle with the race at his mercy.  Predictably enough, Monsieur came from the clouds under Matt Griffiths to get up close home - it was one of the worst cases I have ever seen, and while I know the lad is only a 7lbs conditional, there can be little excuse for such offences.  He is now facing a 28 day suspension (the maximum penalty for the offence), and to be honest I don't think that is long enough.  It has happened before and is sure to happen again, but why do the jockeys do it?...the handicapper isn't stupid and will penalise a heavily eased winner every bit as much as a horse that is ridden out to the line.

*****

The Open Meeting at Cheltenham starts tomorrow and there is plenty of money around in the ante-post market for the big race on Saturday, The Paddy Power Gold Cup.  We will be represented by Great Endeavour, who is a best priced 9/2 to give David his first success in the race.  The favourite is the Nicky Henderson trained, ex-French recruit Long Run at 7/2.

*****

Looking through my notebook, I have a few horses that should pay to follow over the next few weeks.  Alan King has one called Sweet Irony who was placed twice in bumpers, before running an encouraging third at Wincanton last weekend in what could turn out to be a fair novices' hurdle.  He should improve with that experience under his belt and looks a ready made winner to me.  Another one from the King stable is Stoney's Treasure who finished third at Fontwell last time out - he got tired in the straight that day, but looks to be on a decent handicap mark and will have improved for the run.

The next one that caught my eye was Reveal The Light - he travelled like the winner of his Uttoxeter bumper on his only start before running green - with more patient tactics employed, he looks to be well capable of winning soon.

Finally, as usual Nicky Henderson has some good bumper horses and I thought that his Whoops A Daisy put up a decent effort under a penalty when runner-up at Warwick in a race that could turn out to be quite decent.  These should certainly pay to keep on the right side of in the near future, so don't say I don't ever give you anything!