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Last night, Danny Tudhope rode Under Siege for Andrew Balding in the 6.20pm at Windsor. The horse had finished second on his previous two starts, one of which was behind subsequent Dante winner Economics. It was no surprise to see him go off 30/100 favourite last night.
The horse was slow out of the stalls. Then Tudhope took a pull. The horse was in last place going around the loop at the far end of the course. He then made a bit of late headway before finishing third.
Needless to say, social media went into a meltdown. Five threads were started on the Betfair Forum within a minute of the race finishing, one openly accusing Tudhope of cheating.
A few minutes later, Matt Chapman reported on SSR that Tudhope told him he sustained an injury on leaving the stalls. This meant he could not ride properly. He gave up his remaining rides.
That all seems fair enough on the face of it. But my question is: why does the official stewards report into the race merely state: “Following the race, Daniel Tudhope reported that Under Siege, placed third, was slowly away”.
Did Tudhope not mention his injury to the stewards? If so, why did he not tell them but he did tell Matt Chapman? Or if he did tell them, why did the stewards not include this highly relevant information in their report?
Also, if Tudhope did sustain an injury as he claimed, why did he not pull up? Despite this mystery injury, he still managed to ride the horse from last to third place.
I am not suggesting skullduggery. But I am saying the whole thing looks odd and unsatisfactory.
Surely we’re entitled to know the nature of the injury so we can fully evaluate the ride?
And why is there a break in the Sky replay currently at the intersection?
Horse wasn’t exactly finding plenty in the straight so not sure if that meltdown was justified.
Tom Marquand took his ride in the following race but Tudhope has recovered to be riding again today.
“Horse wasn’t exactly finding plenty in the straight so not sure if that meltdown was justified.”
I agree. I also think the horse looked a bit of an awkward customer.
But I don’t like the way Tudhope reined the horse back, then told a journalist he was injured but not the stewards and then is fit enough to ride today.
As I said, it looks odd and unsatisfactory.
“A few minutes later, Matt Chapman reported on SSR that Tudhope told him he sustained an injury on leaving the stalls. This meant he could not ride properly. He gave up his remaining rides”.
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I’m usually one who finds an excuse for a jockey. But…
If Tudhope did tell Matt Chapman that, then the authorities must surely look at this.He was “injured leaving the stalls”…
Yet I can’t see anything abnormal leaving the stalls…
Being injured didn’t stop him using his strength to anchor the horse out the back of the field…
And did not stop him riding a finish (all too late) from where he himself put the horse.Maybe I have missed something?
Where was the injury? In his head?
If I was the trainer or owner Tudhope would never ride one of mine again.
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