BRITISH racing's system of reserves came under its greatest scrutiny yet when the £123,000 first prize in yesterday's John Smith's Northumberland Plate at Newcastle went to an Irish raider that was not even in the supposed final field declared on Thursday.
Arc Bleu, trained in Ireland by Tony Martin, was given a terrific ride by Adrian Nicholls to get up on the line in the two-mile Pitmen's Derby and beat Halla San with long-time leader Bogside Theatre plugging on for third.
Sent off at 14-1, there
had been a flood of money for Arc Bleu as soon as he was confirmed a runner, probably on the strength of Martin's outstanding record in big British handicap races over the years. At one point on Friday, Arc Bleu was among the favourites, making nonsense of the betting – if punters who chose other horses had known Arc Bleu was going to run, they might well have kept their money in their wallets. Last year, the BHA brought in the 48-hour declaration rule which should mean that the final field for a big race such as the Plate is finalised two days before the off. Both Arc Bleu and Bollin Derek only took part because Lost Soldier Three and Pippa Green were withdrawn early on Friday.
The situation for punters was even worse at Royal Ascot, when reserves were allowed to take part on the day of the race in a trial brought in by the British Horseracing Authority. At least the two reserves in the Northumberland Plate were known on Friday, but the combination of 48-hour declarations and reserves means that punters face uncertainty over the identities of all the runners in some major races.
Channel 4's John McCririck has called the new "on the day" system "outrageous", while the racing journalist and broadcaster Lydia Hislop wrote to the Racing Post saying: "This development has only served to underline the contempt in which they are held... when you place a bet, you should be able to do so within known parameters."
Meanwhile, on day two of the Irish Derby Festival meeting at the Curragh, Promising Lead landed a first Group One success in the Audi Pretty Polly Stakes.
Trained by Sir Michael Stoute and ridden by Ryan Moore, the daughter of Danehill was sent off the 2-1 favourite in the 10-furlong event.
In a storming finish, she dug deep in the final furlong to hold Dermont Weld's Mad About You. Last year's dual 1000 Guineas winner Finsceal Beo made no show.
Ayr Racecourse has been called in front of the BHA's Disciplinary Panel after three horses were allowed to gallop on the course before racing on May 29. The course could face a minimum fine of £3,500.
Once again it seems that pettifogging officialdom prefers to go chasing after hard-working people doing their best to help trainers, while not caring a fig for hard-pressed punters.
The full article contains 507 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
