Exeter And Towcester Today

I thought that War Singer produced a good first effort over hurdles when finishing fourth in what looked to be a hot maiden at Newbury yesterday afternoon.  Remember he won five times on the level in France and will handle the ground over the coming months - he looks a ready made winner to me.

This afternoon we have five runners - three at Exeter and two at Towcester.  Conor O'Farrell is on duty at Exeter aboard The Tatkin, Arrayan and Midnight Tuesday, while Tom Scudamore rides Close House at Towcester and Hadden Frost takes the mount aboard Glassawine.

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Watching yesterday's action, one horse that I will be avoiding in future is the Paul Nicholls trained Polisky, who was sent off 10/11 for the 2m3f novices' hurdle at Newbury yesterday.  He had the best form on offer, including a good third to Fingal Bay in a Grade 2 hurdle at Cheltenham, but he never looked like taking a hand in the finish and is one to be wary of at short odds.

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It is a sad day for racing as four flat jockeys have been warned off.  Whilst we are deseperately trying to encourage a new generation of racegoers to the sport, this is exactly the sort of negative publicity that will have them questioning racing's integrity.  If you were to stand in any betting shop in the country (with the possible exception of Brixham where  there are no punters!) most of the punters in there will tell you that racing is crooked and this latest scandal does little to dispel this myth.  At least the bans (totalling 26 years) will show that the BHA are committed to stamping corruption out of the sport and they deserve a pat on the back for that.  The thing that I find incredible is that the people behind these plots risked over £800,000 to win just under £284,745 - you would think they could have found a solid 1/3 chance to back to earn a similar amount without needing to resort to corruption?!

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I see that it is Australian former jockey Jamie Evans' 43rd birthday today.  Jamie, or "The Fat Antipodean" as he was otherwise known, won the Coral Cup aboard Big Strand at the Cheltenham Festival in 1997.  He was certainly a character and I could tell you a story or two about him...including the one where I received a letter from Qantas airlines.  It said as I was Jamie's racing manager(!), would I please pay them for his upgraded flight back to Australia!   He was a real wind-up merchant, which might explain his old windmill whip action.  Anyway, happy birthday mate!