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Interesting stuff Lee – trainers would do well to remember that without the levy they’d be racing for tuppence.
As we have seen this week, horses can be earmarked for certain races only for the weather, a poor piece of work or a bad scope scupper those plans at quite short notice. While a trainer can say what their plans are, it will not stop some fool on here accusing them of putting the public away when those plans are affected by circumstances beyond their control.
The older established trainers (the ones that have grown up without massive media/internet interest) find giving news about their horses difficult. We should make some allowances. It’s obvious David Pipe would be far more comfortable with it than Nicky Henderson. That said, "allowances" does not mean they are allowed to totally shaft punters. They should let the public know the very important stuff within hours. With the proviso that everyone has a right to change his/her mind and circumstances could change things further.
Basically, trainers should be allowed to train and run their horses wherever they like. It’s got nothing to do with the punter, but just don’t take the pxxx!
Value Is EverythingGingertipster and Eclipse You both are some of the most "SANE" people i have seen on this forum, and you have said what i have been trying to say for a while with topics like this, as eclipse says "bad piece of work" if a horse is off form the last thing you need is the mount and jockey being in serious danger by clattering a fence!
There are many reasons why horses are withdrawn, and if its a problem, simply dont back the antepost market!
Bad pieces of work or weather have nothing to do with this instance
Everyone and their mother knew that Sprinter Sacre would be headed for Newbury – why not say so ?
Even if Kid Cassidy had been injured, i doubt Henderson would have decided to go to Doncaster in what would have been a farce of a race for such a horse.
Trainers may well feel they can’t win when it comes to informing the public.
If Henderson is 90% certain in his mind about going to Newbury and 10% possible for Donny and says "Sprinter Sacre runs at Newbury" and then changes his mind… Then he’s accused of "putting punters away". And even if he says "90% Newbury and 10% Donny", he’s still accused of "putting punters away". In which case he might feel it is best not to say which destination is favoured until 100% certain.
I don’t agree that he should do so, but can in a way understand why.
If it were an ante-post market it is even worse, because it is almost inevitable the horse is well backed before information is given to the public. And well and truly said to be "putting punters away".
Henderson also thought Binocular was
in his opinion
certain to miss the Champion Hurdle and said so. This "opinion" proved wrong, the horse making considerable improvement in his health; not only to take part, but to win. So after that, he probably does not want to say anything; if he does, certainly not to make anything just a slight possibility. Otherwise he’d get it through the neck again.
Value Is EverythingWhy do people only refer to Binocular when talking about Criminal (ironic name, if any lawyers are reading) Nicky? He’s done so many more things than that in the past 2 years.
What the xxxx matters anyway in the case of Sprinter Sacre? Neither is an ante-post race. Unless it is a racecourse a particular punter goes to, what matters? Henderson can enter/choose from 5 non-ante-post races and say nothing about where he’s likely run until final declarations – for all I care. Nowt to do with me.
Value Is EverythingWhy do people only refer to Binocular when talking about Criminal (ironic name, if any lawyers are reading) Nicky? He’s done so many more things than that in the past 2 years.
Agreed Zark.
In my opinion he didn’t do much wrong there anyway. The Queens horse though is another matter.
Value Is Everything
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