Tommo Tee'd Up For Failure at Kempton Park!

With so much debate yesterday regarding whether horses should be allowed to run after bolting, I would like to play devil's advocate on the matter.

The stance of Timeform Radio, which I was listening to at the time of Tee It Up Tommo's premature exertions at Kempton Park, was unequivocally on the side of the punter. Or was it?

The punter's perspective.

Given the small amount of money traded on Tee It Up Tommo who opened at 40-1 and returned at an SP of 33-1 would suggest that the pre race antics did nothing to dampen any enthusiasm for the horse. With the vast majority of money placed elsewhere it begs the question: if this was a 8 runner field and you had placed a bet earlier in the day on an alternative horse (which the vast majority had done), how happy would you be to lose a place on your EW bet or face a rule 4 if the price of the horse that bolted was considerably shorter?

I would suggest that the vast majority of punters were indifferent to whether the horse took its place in the line-up.

If you were one of the few that backed Tee It Up Tommo and felt that its chance was now severely compromised, how many of you would have the conviction to lay the horse to retrieve your stake?

I would suggest not many!  

I have seen many a horse bolt pre race in my 54 years, some of which have gone on to win! Only one horse is going to win the race and the view will always be if a horse that bolted pre-race loses it was a poor choice, if it wins; an inspirational choice. Even more poignant: my speed figure returns suggest that Tee It Up Tommo's performance last night was on a par with its previous run on the same surface at Lingfield Park.

The Trainer's perspective.

Motives to one side: With the cost incurred on having traveled a horse to the course, booked and paid for the jockey and honouring his commitment to the owners is paramount to a trainers livelihood. 

Running a horse after it has bolted may raise eyebrows and beg the question: what are the Trainers motives?

In the case of Tee It Up Tommo, Michael Wighams motives prior to, and after the horse had bolted, most likely remained the same. Running over 11f in its third maiden after previously being tried over 12f the intentions appeared to be self-evident.

I will be expecting to see Tee It Up Tommo competing in 7f - 1m Handicap in the not too distant future.