One Runner At Huntingdon

The stable has just the one runner this afternoon - Clever Dick participates in the conditional jockey's handicap hurdle at Huntingdon at 12.50pm and Conor O'Farrell takes the ride.  Let's hope that he has better luck than our North Yorkshire National runner Shaking Hands who was sent off favourite for the marathon handicap at Catterick yesterday only to unseat Tom Scudamore at the first.  I am pleased to report that both horse and jockey are fine this morning.

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It was good to see amateur jockey Mr Robert Cooper riding a winner aboard Mortimers Cross in the long distance chase at Fontwell yesterday - in the process landing a few tidy bets.  Cooper is the jockey that was banned for 52 days for his use of the stick aboard Elton Fox at Uttoxeter last month.  As he passed the line Cooper threw his stick away - I don't suppose he will be needing it for a while!

Having watched Southwell on television, I cannot believe that Robert Winston received a 22 day ban for his ride on Zenarinda - it didn't look at all offensive to me.  In fact, it looked like a tremendous ride to only just get beaten and I still don't know why all the jockey's haven't got together to make a stand against these ridiculous new regulations.  If there are no jockeys there will be no racing...things will soon get thrashed out then - come on jockeys, it's time to stand up and be counted!

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I know that I go on about prize money, but I think I have a valid point.  Just look at Musselburgh today where there is a total of £32,000 up for grabs, and Lingfield on the all-weather where there is a paltry £22,000 divided between seven races - compare that with Dundalk over in Ireland where there is £62,000 on offer.  It makes me wonder why these Irish trainers keep bringing their runners over here to compete for less money!