Choking on my cornflakes

I nearly choked on my cornflakes yesterday morning reading through a few emails on my IPod, one of which was a ATR Tracker Notification.

For those of you not familiar with the ATR Tracker, it allows you to make a comment on individual horses and then sends you a notification on any subsequent runs.

The horse I had noted was Villa Royale and here is the comment to the letter that I had made on 5th December 2011.

Curious ride from Eddie Ahern not riding the horse out when in contention and went down by a small margin.

Eddie and Villa Royale never met again in eight subsequent runs. I cant imagine why! However I do know that they are unlikely to meet again for the foreseeable future.

Constant Dream still a bit of a nightmare!

Being more resilient than most when shrugging of losers I am surprised to find that a race from Mondays Southwell card is still playing on my mind. Four days have lapsed since and even Wednesday’s very profitable day hasn't removed the feeling that something needs to be addressed in the Sport of Kings.

The race in question was the Southwell 16:00 where I had provided subscribers with Constant Dream as a selection the evening before at 11-1. The weight of market support saw Constant Dream vying for favouritism at various stages during the morning and I am sure that this would be the horse that bookmakers wanted beaten.

As they swung off the last bend market rival Hidden Asset ridden by A Mullen, intentionally, in my opinion tightened up Constant Dream who was prominent enough to be in Mullen’s peripheral vision at minimum. Not so much as a look over the shoulder by Mullen as this would have only acted as proof of his awareness.

Hidden Asset then faded in the straight to be a poor third while Constant Dream after regaining its momentum chased home the winner Fossa going down by ¾ length. There was no doubt that the momentum lost cost Constant Dream far more than ¾ length and on that basis believe that the selection would have won.

Here lies the problem: If Mullen had been found guilty of reckless riding he would face a couple of day’s suspension, and as the horse hampered finished in front of the horse that caused the interference the result would stand. The issue I have is that jockeys can ride with reckless abandon knowing that in the vast majority of cases the finishing order will remain unaltered regardless of the means used to achieve their position.

I am not suggesting that bookmakers might ask favours of jockeys to hinder a rival but the rules of racing as they stand would allow for it. In this case it was probably no more than Mullen trying to get a march on a market rival by intentionally hindering its progress which many might view as tactically astute. I ask you to look at the picture in this article, bearing in mind that Constant Dream was little more than a head behind Hidden Asset at the time of the interference and reassess! (G.Lee - Constant Dream - light blue and black)

Me, I would rather adopt rules similar to those in operation in America where the horse causing the interference is automatically thrown out. This would add to the safety of the sport, help to stop any behind the scenes malpractices and we would see fairer results to races.

Is 10 years long enough for Eddie Ahern?

With the news that Jockey Eddie Ahern has been banned for 10 years after being found guilty of breaching three British Horse Racing Authority rules. I am asking myself that if there is no shadow of doubt over his guilt is 10 years long enough.

As two of the horses in question carried my money it is hard to take a sympathetic view and I feel that if you bring the sport that provides your livelihood in to disrepute with a contemptuous disregard to the consequences being warned off for life is a more fitting punishment!

Ahern was found guilty of conspiring to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice, intentionally failing to ensure a horse was ridden on its merits and of passing information for reward. Former footballer turned owner Neil Clement was banned for 15 years.

Eddie Ahern intends to appeal against the BHA's findings In a statement, the 35-year-old's solicitor said: "Eddie Ahern is absolutely devastated by the BHA panel's findings. He did not breach the rules of racing as found by the panel or at all and he will be appealing both the findings as well as the very harsh penalties imposed on him."

Ex-Footballer Neil Clement was also found guilty of conspiring to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice, placing a lay bet on a horse which he then owned and failure to provide phone records to the inquiry. He was also fined £3,000 for the offences.

Ahern was charged with conspiring to commit a corrupt practice relating to the 'laying' of five horses between September 2010 and February 2011. He was also found guilty of preventing his ride Judgethemoment from obtaining the best possible position at Lingfield in 2011.

Clement was found guilty of breaching rules relating to the five Ahern races, with the jockey believed to have passed on information for the ex-footballer to use for lay betting. The former Baggies defender was also found guilty of the laying of Hindu Kush, which he then owned, when the horse finished last out of six runners at Kempton in February 2011.

Adam Brickell, the BHA's director of integrity, legal and risk, said: "The clear message from this, and other cases heard in the last 18 months, should be that the BHA is better equipped than ever at pinpointing and prosecuting malpractice. This investigation was another landmark in terms of our intelligence and evidence gathering capabilities as it was the first occasion on which we have received assistance from a spread betting company to bring a successful prosecution."

Former registered owner Michael Turl, who admitted conspiring with Clement and/or others to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice, was disqualified in April for two years and fined £10,000  in connection with the laying of Stoneacre Gareth in March 2011.

James Clutterbuck, son of and assistant to Newmarket trainer Ken Clutterbuck, was handed a 30-month disqualification in April  after also admitting to conspiring with Clement.

Unlicensed individuals Martin Raymond and Paul Hill were charged in relation to the Stoneacre Gareth race but were cleared of conspiring to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice.

Kempton Park All Weather Speed Figures - Wednesday 22nd May 2013

22nd May 2013 Kempton Park
The Actuary All  Weather speed ratings are based purely on a time perspective with no weight adjustment and are compiled by The Actuary. To the left: Level of performance on last run. To the right: Previous performances over course and distance, in brackets, the number of course and distance runs considered. * denotes top rated horse prior to any going adjustment. Figures are available to monthly subscribers the evening before each UK All Weather meeting. ❶ Is The Actuary's 1-9 (9 being high) assessment of the merits of the 'Sire' over today's conditions 6:00 £200 Free Bets At Betdaq Median Auction Maiden Stakes Cl5 1m2f
101.6%		Velvetina
101.2%		Punditry	98.5%	(2)		❶
99.1%	*	Loved One				❶
99.0%		Money Talks				❶
98.7%		Atlantis City				❸
98.6%		Jareeda
97.8%		Fenton
97.6%		Mrs Mann				❶
97.1%		Solvanna	97.1%	(1)		❶
92.4%		We´Re In The Red
		Brave Helios				❶
		Parker Ridge
		Pursivere
		Violet Dancer				❶

Lingfield Park All Weather Speed Figures - Wednesday 22nd May 2013

22nd May 2013 Lingfield Park
The Actuary All  Weather speed ratings are based purely on a time perspective with no weight adjustment and are compiled by The Actuary. To the left: Level of performance on last run. To the right: Previous performances over course and distance, in brackets, the number of course and distance runs considered. * denotes top rated horse prior to any going adjustment. Figures are available to monthly subscribers the evening before each UK All Weather meeting. ❶ Is The Actuary's 1-9 (9 being high) assessment of the merits of the 'Sire' over today's conditions 2:00 Mail Publisher Solutions Handicap Cl6 1m3f106y
101.1%		El Libertador				❶
100.7%		Mr Lando
100.6%		Uncle Roger				❷
100.1%		Glens Wobbly
100.1%		Iguacu				❶
99.9%		Minority Interest				❶
99.8%		Notabadgirl
99.8%		The Yank
99.6%		Irons On Fire				❶
99.6%	*	Astroscarlet				❷
99.2%		Sassi Sioux
98.4%		Mariet				❶
96.4%		Major Buckley				❷
94.5%		Lindsay´s Dream				❶

Southwell All Weather Speed Figures - Wednesday 22nd May 2013

22nd May 2013 Southwell
The Actuary All  Weather speed ratings are based purely on a time perspective with no weight adjustment and are compiled by The Actuary. To the left: Level of performance on last run. To the right: Previous performances over course and distance, in brackets, the number of course and distance runs considered. * denotes top rated horse prior to any going adjustment. Figures are available to monthly subscribers the evening before each UK All Weather meeting. ❶ Is The Actuary's 1-9 (9 being high) assessment of the merits of the 'Sire' over today's conditions 1:50 £25 Free Bet At BetVictor.com Handicap (Div I) Cl6 7f
100.3%		Just Five	98.6%	(5)
100.2%		Jebel Tara	100.4%	(1)
98.9%		Master Of Song	97.6%	(1)		❸
98.8%		Heidi´s Delight				❷
98.5%		Chez Vrony	98.5%	(2)		❶
98.3%		Mucky Molly	98.8%	(4)		❶
98.2%		Upper Lambourn	98.9%	(2)		❶
98.1%	*	Jackie Love	98.1%	(1)		❶
97.4%		Captain Cavallo
95.9%		Tenancy	97.7%	(11)		❶
95.0%		Mistress Shy
94.3%		Visions Of Johanna				❷
93.6%		Elusive Warrior	99.3%	(35)		❶

Waiting for the next All Weather meeting and three turn up together!

Well two and a half to be precise. After much deliberation in where to stick The Actuary pin today while avoiding the race with subscribers selections in, I have opted to put forward one at each of today’s All Weather meetings for your deliberation.

  

Starting at Southwell, and in particular the 4:20. I won’t throw in too many clichés like ‘trappie little race’ but it would be easy to make claims for half the field here and The Lock Master makes obvious appeal, but what has taken my eye is a horse yet to try the surface.

HALLING DANCER currently trading at 16-1 (Coral) has been pushed up in class in each of its three previous races 14/14 in October 2012 btn 15 ½ lengths in a Class 5, 14/16 in April 2013 beaten 23 lengths in a Class 4 and then 3/8 beaten ¾ length in a Class 3 with horses in the mid 80’s behind it and no question marks on a sire of Halling taking to the surface. I would be hopeful of a big run at a big price.

Finding something outside of the race selections sent to subscribers on the Lingfield Park card was a challenge and I have opted to put up SIR MIKE in the 5:30. I would have liked to have got this posted in time for you to take advantage of the 5-1 opening price but we are now faced with a price which has now halved.

This is the easiest opportunity SIR MIKE has had in recent outings and there is no surprise in the drop back in trip after failing to get home over 9f last time out after travelling well throughout the contest. Whether there is any value at taking 5-2 on a horse that is a 11 race maiden but I wouldn't back against it.

And finally we come to Kempton Park and focus on the last race of the card at 9:00. With Pour La Victoire taken out earlier this morning the horse that has taken my eye is BEAUCHAMP SUNSET currently trading at 22-1 for its first run in a Handicap.

With what looks like woeful form after running in three Class 5 Maiden races over sprint distances BEAUCHAMP SUNSET find itself in a Class 6 1 mile Handicap. Bred for middle distances, dropped in class and with Nicole Nordblad in the plate I am expecting this horse to lead pillar to post.    

Southwell All Weather Speed Figures - Monday 20th May 2013

19th May 2013 Southwell
The Actuary All  Weather speed ratings are based purely on a time perspective with no weight adjustment and are compiled by The Actuary. To the left: Level of performance on last run. To the right: Previous performances over course and distance, in brackets, the number of course and distance runs considered. * denotes top rated horse prior to any going adjustment. Figures are available to monthly subscribers the evening before each UK All Weather meeting. ❶ Is The Actuary's 1-9 (9 being high) assessment of the merits of the 'Sire' over today's conditions 2:30 Follow Us On Twitter @BetVictorRacing Amateur Riders´ Classified Claiming Stakes Cl6 1m6f
103.1%	*	Scribe	99.6%	(1)
101.8%		Dontpaytheferryman	98.3%	(1)
101.3%		Activate
97.8%		Bubbly Braveheart				❷
95.6%		Turjuman	96.6%	(1)
92.0%		Usquaebach
		Barnacle
		Underwritten