Equinties - 'level playing field'

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Unless you've been living under a rock this week, you will have no doubt already read about the McNally story and formed your own opinion on it.

The (in)famous Irish trainer Ronan McNally was caught cheating and subsequently hammered by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory effectively ending his career as a trainer.

At 12 years (and a 40k fine), it's the biggest ban the IHRB has ever handed out to a cheating trainer and clearly he's being made an example of. (Hash given that horrible c*nt Stephen Mahon got less for animal cruelty).

As per racing integrity, ethics or law...whatever you want to label it, what McNally did is obviously wrong but jeez...harsh when everyone is doing it.

The IHRB state McNally's actions struck at the 'integrity of the sport and the objective of having a level playing field for all who send horses out to race' which is ironic when to be able to compete on racing's 'level playing field' you basically HAVE to cheat. Kinda reminds me a lot like cycling actually. Want to be any good? Cheat.

Cheating does need to be stamped but but do I think it ever will? No.

Of course, sometimes the best and most entertaining racing stories are around the trickery which goes on behind the scenes but in the same breath, it's not good for the sport. In order to establish longevity in the sport you need a big, loyal fan base like football, golf or NFL and cheating only compromises that through public deceit.

As a betting man, I accept cheating a part of the sport (and great if you're on the winning end of it. BGP Capital had it off yesterday on Moore's plot job...

But the sensible and true racing man in me knows this is wrong. I just don't how racing will ever address it. Prize money probably the first thing to sort out - more prize money and perhaps owners might feel they don't need to land a gamble to pay for the lifestyle.

Anyway let's dive in.

12 years for Ronan

In what was a shocking announcement from HRI, prominent Irish trainer Ronan McNally was handed a 12-year disqualification from Irish Racing yesterday.

Having been charged for 10 infringements involving the handicapping and running of his horses, McNally had also been found culpable of conspiring with fellow trainer David Dunne to conceal his ownership in FULL NOISE and ALL CLASS - this deemed to bring the sport into disrepute.

McNally has also been fined €50,000 and ordered to pay back the €13,000 in prize money.

More on this interesting case:

Dublin Racing Festival five-day forfeits

The five-day forfeit stage for the Dublin Racing Festival has revealed the horses that will be skipping Leopardstown this weekend.

The main news from the event was that CONFLATED, last year’s winner, will miss the Irish Gold Cup and head to Cheltenham as a fresh horse - Elliott is keen to keep him fresh ahead of Cheltenham.

Via the Nick Luck Podcast, Elliott is excited to get AMERICAN MIKE out on the track again and GERRI COLOMBE is an intended runner in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown.

A PYLEDRIVER of a setback

William Muir & Chris Grassick’s PYLEDRIVER, the winner of the most recent Group 1 King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, has been hit with a setback and is set to miss his Spring targets.

The Winter Million Stakes in late February and Dubai Sheema Classic at the end of March were firmly on the radar for the six-year-old, however, recent tests have come back negatively for his chances of turning up.

"Everything was going brilliantly and I was buzzing, but yesterday morning he finished a routine canter and was a tiny bit off on his near-fore," Muir said. "We've got to wait on tests, but I knew where we were – he was in fantastic shape and the three bits of work he'd done have been stunning. It's frustrating, but it's one of those things."

They are hoping to get him back for July to retain his title.

More:

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Today's best stats

JACAMAR 15.10 was given a tentative ride lto at Cheltenham and drops back to a class 3, the level at which saw his last win. Milton is 2 from 5 in these types of races at Leicester.

STRIKE ALLIANCE had a slow start lto so his performance can be upgraded. He'd been reportedly working well at home so is given another chance in the 17.30 under Probert who is 4 from 9 for Balding this season.

Charlie Appleby has won 2 of 3 renewals of the 18.30 and sends two for it today in MEASURED TIME and GOLDEN SPEECH. MEASURED TIME the one apparently.

DANCE TO PARIS has raced at Kempton 7x and finished either 1st or 2nd 4x off marks in the mid 70's. Fits the bill today, especially given Jack Mitchell looked not to everyone do anything on her lot.

Risk on

Bets will be posted on Twitter

13.50 GOLD CUP BAILLY 1/1

Just leverage. Looking to play a double, will post on twitter.

14 to a milli

Right, so I think I'm unparalleled when it comes to match bets. Across the card I'm only ever 1 or 2 off but if you hit them as singles, well you'd be laughing.

There's a Tiktok craze going viral in the States where people try to hit 14 bets to a million.

Starting pot $100 - whack it on the first bet (around even money) and the pot rolls on to the next ($200 second, then $400 on the third... you know what I mean).

I think I can do it with match bets. Granted, the hard part will be actually getting the money down after, like, bet 4, but let's see if we can do it for a laugh.

Bet 1: 13.25 US AND THEM to beat RED BOND at 4/5.

This is not a confident start as the pick has done nothing but pull up for Jonesy but there isn't another match bet on offer where there is such an advantage for the peds. US AND THEM is a properly bred NH horse... RED BOND a sharp sprinter.

If he finishes the race, he beats RED BOND. Jonesy is as shrewd as they come too. PLEASE FINISH THE RACE otherwise we'll be back at bet 1 tomorrow morning.