SELF-INTEREST, SEAN BEHIND & 12-DAY BAN.

We all suffer from self-interest at times. A universal decision that affects the football team we follow, for example, is never judged by anyone of us in the round, the good it might bring to the majority. It is a personal slight, a rock in the road on our personal journey towards hopeful reflective glory. I, for instance, or indeed you, have no actual financial stake in the decision by France Galop to open the Arc to geldings. The Arc is so far out of our influence it is folly just to give it any thought until the days leading-up to the race itself. What care I if a gelding wins the 2027 Arc.

John Magnier senior, though, does have a financial interest in the decision to allow geldings to take part in Europe's most valued and valuable race. He is the business of making stallions, standing them at one of his many studs around the world, selling the least successful to breeders around the world. If one of his colts wins the Arc the value of that horse increases many-fold; if one of his colts finishes second, the opposite happens. That does not mean he is not being a mean-hearted so-and-so for bleating and bellyaching about the decision of France Galop; wailing about his perceived unfairness, that in one foul swoop the Arc has been ruined for all time. Of course, he would not mind one bit if Minnie Hauk were to win the Arc for Coolmore, defeating all the best colts in Europe. You see, I see no difference in a filly or mare winning the Arc than a gelding. For all the reverance Magnier is heldin by the most influential people in the sport, on this topic John Magnier is talking through his pocket, his self-interest of more importance to him than allowing everyone else to witness the best 12-furlong horses, whether they be colts, fillies, mares or geldings, compete for the best 12-furlong race in the world. If Calandagan is good enough to run in the Japan Cup, he should be good enough to run in the Arc.

As Dan Skelton has set his stall out to beat Martin Pipe's record for most wins in a season, Sean Bowen started the season with the idea he could beat A.P. McCoy's record number for a season. Whereas Dan Skelton is on schedule to achieve his ambition, Sean Bowen is well behind the clock in his ambition. Indeed, it is very doubtful that Sean will even be champion jockey this season given that he is already in arrears of Harry Skelton 50 to 37, with the gap widening by the day.

I freely admit that my response to the 12-day ban given to Gina Mangan by the Ffos Las stewards yesterday is motivated as much by her being my favourite jockey riding at present than the injustice, if that is the case. I have not seen the race and so I may be talking out of my ass. My only evidence for basing my belief that the ban seems incredibly harsh is from what I have read in the Racing Post this morning. Her instruction from Rod Millman was to ride Bold Impact cold, a length last. Both jockey and trainer said the same during the inquiry. In her defence, Mangan told the stewards that her mount was hampered leaving the stalls and because of the fast pace she found herself out of her ground and instead of rushing her mount forward and use up energy that would be needed at the end of the race, she urged him forward using her hands and heels. What must be understood, and this is from my perspective, is that Mangan is a horsewoman. The horse ran for her, which is why she finished as close to the winner as she did. She did not give the horse an unduly hard race through the circumstances dealt to her. The stewards issued the ban for 'failure to take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure her horse was ridden to run on its merits.' I would like to ask the Ffos Las stewards what motivation would Mangan have for not riding the horse on its merits? She may have ridden an injudicious race. Everyone makes mistakes. But the wording on the charge-sheets suggests wrongdoing, felonious intent, even. As always, if Mangan believes herself subject to injustice, I hope she has the courage to appeal, as I suggest stewards are as open to errors of judgement the same as jockeys or trainers and should be held to account for their mistakes.