10 non-runners in 2 races on the All Weather is bizarre

With little to no Class 2 race history at Wolverhampton it is hard to pass judgement on whether the performances on last night's opening 'Championship' races were run to a suitable standard. Of the supporting races on the card the 6:15 Class 5 2yo Maiden was well below standard, the 7:15 Class 6 3yo Handicap was above standard by an equal measure. The 7:45 was slightly below standard but the manner of Alakhan's fascicle victory would lead me to believe that the winner has justified its place in this grade. Fresa's victory was just below my standard all leading me to believe that the track was riding only marginally under standard.

With all the talk and focus being on the 'Championship' races it helped to mask for me the big story and something I find a little dubious. The number of non runners in two of the races. 7:45 saw 5 non-runners along with the 8:45, another 5 non-runners. Having followed the All Weather almost from its concept I find this recent occurrence extremely dubious.

We are all aware of the conditions at Wolverhampton being more testing than usual, this has been documented for months. Therefore the trainers were all aware of what their horses were likely to be faced with at the time of making entries so we will rule out the conditions as a likely cause for the withdraws. I would find it inexplicable for 10 horses in two races to be withdrawn on veterinary advice, therefore suspect that the Bookmaking fraternity are having some part to play in this. I say this, one, because it is so unusual and two, what better way is there to resolve an under-round book. I am sure that many might feel that this maybe fanciful and I would say to you, don't be naive, there is big money involved!