11am Rust seeks fair return for planned Racing Right
Tony Paley: British Horseracing Authority chief executive Nick Rust has responded to bookmaker criticism and insists racing is seeking a “fair and reasonable return” from bookmakers under the proposed new Racing Right.
Chancellor George Osborne announced the introduction of the new scheme in Wednesday’s budget, with the idea seen as the replacement funding mechanism to the 1963 Horserace Betting Levy. It would apply to all bookmakers, wherever located, who take bets from British customers on British racing.
“First of all it is very good news that the government recognises the need to put in place a sustainable mechanism,” Rust told At The Races on Thursday morning. “I’m very keen that all parties look at this for the potential that it can offer in the medium term. The Levy Board does a really good job, but unfortunately they can only act within a statutory framework which governs what they can and can’t do.
“Unfortunately, whilst the Levy has stood the test of time for the last 50 years, probably for the last 10, since the digital age came about, it is not an effective mechanism. As we saw at Cheltenham last week, it is pot luck whether your bet is contributing towards the funding of British racing depending on which bookmaker you bet with as offshore bets are outside the system.
“The Racing Right gives us the opportunity to work directly with bookmakers and set a reasonable rate with them to authorise betting on British racing and hopefully build the dialogue between us moving forwards.
“It is not new to look to see how we move on from the Levy system and we have proposals to allow us to effectively implement this.
“The statement made yesterday by the Chancellor suggests there is the confidence in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and within government that a workable solution can be implemented.
“I think the major issue for the bookmakers is a cost for them of such a right and I want to reassure them we are looking for a fair and reasonable return. Anyone who offers bets on British racing will pay an authorisation right - we are not looking to treble revenues and I am acutely aware of the business models of betting shop business and digital business.”
Thursday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
Horses that like to be held up for a late run in sprint handicaps have probably been the cause of more stress-related illness among punters than any other variety, but there are times when they are difficult to avoid and Invigilator (7.10) at Chelmsford City this evening is a case in point.
Not for the first time, Derek Shaw’s sprinter was caught in traffic at Kempton on his latest outing, in a race in which he had been successful 12 months earlier. He would not have finished much faster if he had been strapped to a cruise missile, but the damage had been done and he passed the post in fourth place in one of the blanket finishes of the season, beaten by three short-heads.
Invigilator did not have much luck in running at Southwell in late February either, but he was a winner here on the track’s opening afternoon in January and has only seven rivals to worry about today. Some horses, of course, always seem to find something to get in the way, but his run at Kempton suggested he is in rude health at present and 4-1 is a price that factors in the uncertainties of his run style.
Monein (8.10) and Berrahri (6.10) are two more that should go very close on the same card, while Mountain King (4.05) will take plenty of beating in the two-mile handicap chase at Ludlow. He has just two chase starts behind him and is open to more improvement than his opponents, despite the burden of top weight.
Waldorf Salad (3.40) needs to improve his jumping a little from his latest outing but has a strong chance if Venetia Williams has ironed out the wrinkles, while Spirit Of Gondree (4.25) makes most appeal on the Tapeta at Wolverhampton.
Tipping competition, day four
Our winners so far:
Monday
Pagham Belle 14-1
Oriental Relation 11-4
Gunna Be A Devil 11-2
Tuesday
Cowslip 8-1
Midnight Request 2-1
Black Narcissus 25-1
Wednesday
Belmount 11-4
Carrigdhoun 25-1
Crowning Star 16-1
And our leader is . . .
JahLion +35.75
. . . despite a winnerless Wednesday. Mai11 (+20.75) moved into second, thanks to Carrigdhoun, also picked by mmmdanish, Tommy2002 and piggers5 (all +17). Only 72luca (+8) found Crowning Star.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.40 Chepstow, 5.10 Ludlow, 7.10 Chelmsford.
This week’s prize is a copy of ‘How To Find The Crabbies Grand National Winner’, a 32-page guide by Paul Jones, to be published by Aintree at the end of next week. It will be largely trends-based but will also included profiles and interviews aimed at illuminating the famous race on 11 April.
As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price on our nominated races, of which there will be three each day up until Friday. Non-runners count as losers. If you have not joined in so far this week, you are welcome to do so today, but you will start on -9.
In the event of a tie at the end of the week, the winner will be the tipster who, from among those tied on the highest score, posted their tips earliest on the final day.
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
Click here for all the day’s racecards, form, stats and results.
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
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