FINES! Who in racing will become the first to be facemask fined?!
From Wednesday the BHA can fine anyone on track who is not wearing their facemask. Oh my!
I’m sure common sense will prevail in most cases, and a warning will be handed out before fines slapped on anyone’s back.
That said, be warned the BHA police are on the prowl!
The first fine is £140, and then it doubles up for repeat offences. One thing I don’t know is where the money goes.
May I make a suggestion that all facemask fine cash goes to the Injured Jockeys’ Fund?
The charity has suffered much over the last year and some good should always come from bad.
It might be happening already. Who knows? But it’s just a suggestion and a very good one I might add!
Grand National Antepost
The Grand National weights come out Tuesday, so here are three to have a few quid on each-way against the field.
I like Kimberlite Candy, The Conditional and Secret Reprieve. All three can be found at 25-1 and are likely to be shorter on the day if they turn up.
Kimberlite Candy stays well and is already proven over the big fences. He will not be chucked in as far as the weights are concerned, but is going to be very hard to keep out the frame for Tom Lacey.
The Conditional brings class form to the big race and will enjoy going left handed. His trainer David Bridgwater got a great tune out of Encore un Peu over the National fences when second to Rough Quest in 1996 and it’s not impossible he can train the winner.
Secret Reprieve could be thrown in as we just don’t know how good the lightly raced but facile victor of the Welsh National might be.
He lacks experience for Aintree but is clearly a very smart staying chaser prospect. He might even be Gold Cup class.
Tiger Roll
Owner Michael O’Leary has stated Tiger Roll – the dual Grand National hero – will not run unless he is given a handicap mark below a rating of 160.
That is very unlikely to happen.
However, no one makes the kind of money O’Leary has as the boss of Ryanair without being highly intelligent.
If Tiger Roll hacks up in the cross-country at Cheltenham he could be a very well handicapped National horse whatever figure he is handed this week.
It would be bonkers to rule him out until he has performed at the Festival.
ITV
Six races will be on ITV from Cheltenham each day. Well done to all concerned.
Of course I am biased, but it really is great news for viewers at home. Have a Yeeehaaa team.
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- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
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