SD's Racing Ramble: Shameful reporting of bleak Sunday was a disgrace to racing

Having amassed a loyal following on our Races Now YouTube channel thanks to a combination of outstanding tipping and forthright opinions, the unimitable 'SD' has now signed up for a weekly column right here on OddsNow.com! 

Today's latest edition digs into the reporting of three tragic fatalities at Cheltenham last weekend, as well as a fanciful glance towards two antepost markets.

I think any of us who love our sport had a sinking feeling on Sunday evening after a horrible day at Cheltenham.

I am in no doubt that our heroes receive the upmost in equine care, however the postscript for racing is a vitriolic character assassination on ITV news.

ITV chose not to do a full report on a double murder in Manchester, eight people being stabbed to death in China, Hezbollah’s spokesman being killed in an Israeli air strike nor calls for The Archbishop of York to resign on grounds of the child abuse scandal engulfing the church. It did however, choose to allow reporter Chris Skudder to voice a report on the most unfortunate fatalities.

It was frankly abhorrent that ITV decided to show two of the three fatalities in real time. The third showed a freeze frame just before Abuffalosolider succumbed. I cannot fathom a cogent reason to do this. It was unnecessary cruel and put racing in the worst possible light. 

Following this, Rose Patterson, from Animal Rising was interviewed. What a pathetic segment of journalism this was.

In August thirteen members of their feral group faced suspended sentences for causing £100,000 of damage at a dairy farm. They have disrupted the Grand National, run on to the racecourse at Epsom mid race and believe that horses should be rewilded. Their idea of reality is far removed from what it should be.

Skudder concluded his report with racing being the "toughest of sports". I don’t know who the hell he thinks he is, but using the medium of television in such a vexatious manner is irresponsible.

That ITV are the sole custodians of terrestrial television coverage for racing means they should do a lot better. It should weigh on the minds of the bourgeoise when the contract comes up for renewal after this most sorry of postscripts to a bad weekend.

Whilst we cannot hideaway from the acceptable dangers faced, the reporting by ITV was wholly unacceptable, courting opinion from losers and generally with a biased tone.

It was wholly unacceptable.

Becher and Hennessy markets make for interesting viewing

Antepost angles for the forthcoming week will be covered in full on YouTube later this week, but there may be opportunities longer term.

The Becher Chase, in three Saturday’s time looked of particular interest. Celebre dAllen, who has shown a liking for the National fences and looked as good as ever despite his advancing years at Bangor last week is no 33/1 shot, as is available.

The Hennessy as a race is a shadow of its former self and it is sad to see. That said, the premise of a young, up and coming chaser is very much the key to backing the winner.

Colonel Harry did not look at ease on a right-handed track on his reappearance and the 8/1 generally available looks well worth taking. From last year’s winning stable, he looks fairly weighted in a race which could cut up appreciably.

For more SD racing insight, be sure to subscribe to the Odds Now and Races Now YouTube channels, and follow Races Now on X (Twitter).