HOLES, TAKING A PULL & OUR TOP-DRAW FEMALES.

I'm sorry but it is getting embarrassing. I considered the hoo-ha over the Cheltenham hole back in January an over-reaction; I thought the criticism of Chester's clerk of the course for not saturating the course overnight when there was a high possibility of a deluge in the afternoon unfair and unwarranted; I had no thoughts on the failure to complete a meeting at Goodwood a few weeks ago as sometimes with our variable weather these things happen - but a hole large enough to accommodate a man's entire arm is getting to the point of endangerment to man and beast. It is time all racecourses with drainage underneath the racing surface is thoroughly inspected. It is not as if a spade or digger will be required as there is equipment (Ladar?) that can scan the ground and give a picture of what is going on beneath the surface on a laptop. Thus far, we have got away with it; Friendly Soul yesterday must have been very close to a fatal accident. I would suggest Jockey Club Estates should start with Epsom and the King should galvanise his team at Ascot to check out the racecourse as something occuring at these two racecourses in the coming weeks will have the sport on the front pages of the national newspapers for all the wrong reasons. All humour has been drawn out of this sort of near-calamity; patience, too, is on the wane. Holes appearing on race-days twice might be a conicidence, a third time might result in a court case involving corporate manslaughter. It needs sorting and it needs to be done yesterday or tomorrow at the latest!

At Goodwood on Friday, Jamie Spencer gave a virtuoso performance of his sublime skill riding Seven Questions, a horse with a mind of his own, in a five-furlong race. He started leaving the stalls by wrestling the horse into as near to last place as he could hope for. Settled him as only a jockey with strength and soft hands can manage, stopped where he was until a furlong and a bit before the jam stick appeared and without taking a hand off the reins, won by the shortest of margins. 

At Haydock yesterday, after the hiatus of the hole, Clifford Lee, riding Venetian Sun in the Sandy Lane, pulled wide, got to the front far too early for his liking, took a pull, sat as quiet as a terrified Labour M.P. during Prime Minister's Question Time, gave some consideration to his route home and what he would have for supper, whispered to his mount that she might, if she thought it neccessary, quicken her stride a little and proceeded to reduce the number of horses that will take her on in the Commonwealth Cup in a few weeks. As sublime, though not as cheeky, as Spencer's effort at Goodwood. And some of you might think I do not appreciate the brilliance of flat jockeys. Spencer and Lee take a bow. Sean Bowen could not have done better.

Unfortunately, it seems Holly Doyle broke her leg in a fall at Bath on Friday evening. It is not confirmed, though as she is to undergo an operation, I cannot think it can be anything other than a leg fracture. It is the life of a jockey, up one day, down the next, and in Holly's case, just when she was putting together a good run of form. Tom, it seems, is not at her bedside as he is very busy at the moment. It is a pity he is contracted to be at The Curragh today, with no flat racing today it would have been a golden opportunity to pick-up some grapes and flowers and visited his wife for a few hours of catching-up. Perhaps tomorrow or the next day.

On the subject of female jockeys. Saffie Osborne is powering along, with two more winners yesterday, leaving her currently fourth in the jockeys championship. And Leah Noreci and Charlotte Jones each rode a winner for their boss James Moffatt at Cartmel yesterday. And tomorrow in the Racing Post there is an interview with one of my favourite jockeys, Gina Mangan. One day someone will notice how good a jockey she is and give her the opportunity of a ride in one of the heritage handicaps. Mind you, I keep saying the same about Jo Mason and I very much doubt that is going to happen any day soon. We are blessed with some very good female jockeys on the flat, yet apart from Holly and Saffie, as a collective they are being ignored by trainers and owners. The sport, especially the flat, has a need to show the outside world that this sport is thoroughly equal in terms of gender and race. At Epsom and Royal Ascot there will be very few rides for female jockeys and none, perhaps, for jockeys of colour outside of Sean Levey. Just saying it as it is. Prejudice still rules, it seems.