£250 fine or a ban? Lack of consistency for transgressions is concerning

Last week was among the most challenging our sport has ever had to endure. The photo of Gordon Elliott astride a dead horse was splashed on the pages of national newspapers, a scenario which was made even worse when a video of amateur jockey Rob James emerged doing exactly the same.

This time last week I wrote about how racing was in damage-control mode and, although not as serious as the two episodes in Ireland, there have been some incidents over the last seven days that give further cause for concern.

The handling of a post-race altercation in full view of the RTV cameras between jockeys Page Fuller and Lorcan Williams at Newbury on Friday was one such incident. Fuller had just won the penultimate race, a 2m4½f handicap hurdle for conditional riders, aboard Our Dot’s Baby, after which she and fellow rider Williams, who was on the Paul Nicholls-trained Confirmation Bias, engaged in what can only be described as an animated display of finger pointing.

While some commentators speculated the argument was about Fuller ‘cutting up’ Williams at various stages of the race, it is unclear what the jockeys were in dispute over.

However seemingly trivial the incident may seem, it is only right that it is addressed by the on-course stewards. A BHA investigation into the treatment of Bryony Frost in the weighing room is an example of a changing atmosphere in the riding community, and it is important a light is shone on matters that would have historically been guarded by the culture of the weighing room – and indeed settled away from the stewards.

The on-course officials handed Williams and Fuller a four-day ban, and later that evening the PJA released a tweet to say it was appealing against the bans on behalf of both riders, adding that the stewards did not disclose what the jockeys were in breach of.

The stewards’ report now states they were banned for ‘improper conduct between jockeys’, which for those interested comes under rule J.21.

Why wasn’t this communicated correctly on the day? Racing has so much to gain when it becomes more streamlined and transparent, including greater understanding for participants, spectators and the wider public.

A day later at Southwell trainer Gay Kelleway was fined £250 under the same rule after she was seen ‘using inappropriate language and speaking in an aggressive manner’ to jockey Oisin McSweeney in the unsaddling area.

So while Kelleway was fined £250 for yelling at a jockey and is otherwise able to operate normally, Fuller and Williams received four-day bans, preventing them from earning a living from race-riding during that time, for arguing with each other.

Then add in the fact that Davy Russell, who was close to escaping with just a caution, was ultimately given the same four-day ban from the Turf Club after he punched a horse at Tramore on August 18, 2017.

Admittedly, Britain and Ireland operate independently, but the inconsistency is confusing for participants and difficult to justify to those looking in from the outside.

There is a significant difference between two jockeys having a verbal altercation, a trainer berating a jockey and a jockey hitting an animal. It is about time this is acknowledged and applied unanimously within the rules of racing, regardless of where it occurs.

After all, it is overwhelmingly in the sport’s interests to ensure the punishment consistently fits the crime.

Natural History miles clear in Imperial Cup

It’s Cheltenham next week but funnily enough this weekend is one of my favourites on the racing calendar. The EBF Final produces staying chasers of the future while the Imperial Cup is similarly competitive – my beloved Thistlecrack was even beaten in it off a mark of 135!

Last year’s Final was rescheduled and run at Kempton but the forecast this week means it is likely to keep its traditional Sandown spot and the ground ought to be decent too.

The likes of Shang Tang and Annual Invictus have been busy in better company, but I’d prefer to take a chance on one of those we don’t have a handle on yet.

One such horse is Ocean Drifter. He has won his last two comfortably but at the time of writing Oliver Sherwood has only had two runners since momentarily shutting down his yard and both of them were pulled up. The trainer saddled Many Clouds to be second in this race in 2013 and like that horse, my fancy is owned by Trevor Hemmings.

Hemmings has two horses entered in Wetlands and Sam Barton, and both would have good chances if turning up, but Nicky Richards indicated the former could need soft ground after his last win and doesn’t look guaranteed to run.

Therefore the one to side with is Sam Barton, who took a big step forward to win at Doncaster last time. He beat The Edgar Wallace, who is a solid-if-frustrating type, and French Graded performer Road Senam, while the strong-travelling fourth Up For Parol won easily at Wetherby on Monday.

He still looked babyish then so it is easy to envisage further improvement, while even his Chepstow fifth behind Star Gate in October also looks solid form. As well as him, the first, second, third, fourth and sixth have all won since. Sandown’s hill won’t pose a problem for him either as he is a strong stayer at the trip.

In the Imperial Cup, Natural History looks miles ahead of the handicapper even after he was reassessed on Tuesday.

Natural History wins easily at Plumpton this monthCredit: Edward Whitaker

He was the victim of overexuberance on his first two starts over hurdles – they were still credible efforts – but that can be forgiven seeing that he had been contesting Group races on the Flat over 1m4f as recently as October.

He looked much more settled before bolting up at Plumpton last time and although the opposition wasn’t particularly strong, he won with any amount in hand and received an RPR of 139.

Soon after his trainer Gary Moore indicated this would be the plan, which suggests he has an incredible amount of confidence in the horse.

If you were lucky you could have got on at 7-2 on Monday but that price soon disappeared. However, he still has the potential to go off remarkably short so it is your decision whether to pounce now or wait until the day when bookies could respond again by pushing him out.

The other to watch on the card is the Alan King-trained Finest View, who runs in the Listed mares’ bumper.

Her excellent pedigree received a decent boost when her brother Charlie’s Glance won at Newbury on Saturday, in the process becoming his dam Call Me A Legend’s sixth winner from as many runners.

Finest View was a cosy winner of a jumpers’ bumper at Kempton last time (raced wide, picked up stylishly and value for much more) and it speaks volumes King has entered her here.

He won the race with Call Me A Star, Finest View’s dam’s sister, in 2012, so he must be optimistic the family can provide him with another success.

Best bets

Sam Barton
1.50 Sandown, Saturday
1pt win, 14-1 bet365

2.25 Sandown, Saturday
1pt win, 3-1 generally

3.00 Sandown, Saturday
1pt win, 10-1 generally

Playle's play

Embittered
4.15 Cheltenham, Wednesday

Joseph O’Brien knows what he’s doing when it comes to festival handicaps and I think he has a live contender for the Grand Annual. This seven-year-old has some excellent form, including at the festival when a close third in the County Hurdle last year off a mark of 146. His first season over fences has been promising as he has posted solid efforts behind the ill-fated Easywork and top talents Andy Dufresne, Franco De Port and Energumene. He still looks capable of much more off a rating 5lb lower than his hurdles mark.

Playle's lay

Chacun Pour Soi
3.05 Cheltenham, Wednesday

Appreciate It and Bravemansgame were also candidates for this, but it’s Cheltenham so I’ll go big as opposed to going home! Chacun Pour Soi is an exceptional talent but he has yet to race at the track and I question his ability to get up the hill. He is most impressive in the middle section of his races and I always think he looks like he is running on empty at the line and this will represent the acid test. He’s definitely capable of winning but there are still doubts about him and is worth taking on at 10-11.

Read more from Maddy Playle:

Racing should be showcasing its wares but it's now in damage control mode

He's among the best in the world – so where is the love for Golden Sixty?

Wedge and Frost comments show where racing must progress

The veterans' series is a monumental success – and it is vital it stays as it is

Yorkhill transformation a feat which deserves joyous celebration

Arkle dark horse has what it takes to tackle red-hot Shishkin

If racing is to develop it's vital it listens to those who speak out on race

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