The biggest issue over the weekend has been the photo finish at Sandown in the 1.50 race on Saturday.  The problem was that Sandown has two winning posts, one I believe is for the flat track and the second one is for the jump races.  Racetech who are contracted to take the photo images, had set up a camera on both winning posts ! The problem arose as the judge received a photograph of the two horses as they passed the first winning post, One For Rosie was about a neck up on Third Watch on this photograph.  So the judge calls the result as One For Rosie the winner, luckily it takes about 5-6 minutes before the “weighed in “ is called, and in those crucial minutes someone realised that the photograph of the “correct “ winning post showed that Third Watch was a nose ahead, and was the winner ! So the judge announces the error,  and gives Third Watch as the winner before the “weigh in “ signal is announced.  The issues are:

1.  Some of the bookmakers had paid out bets on One For Rosie, so had to pay out again on Third Watch.
2. Why did the judge not realise when shown the wrong photograph, that it didn’t look right, before giving out the wrong result. He had seen it was very close at the correct winning post, as he watched it live, he surely should of known it didn’t look right.

It was an absolute shambles really.  I do not have that much sympathy for the bookmakers, as they are not obliged to pay out, until the “weighed in “ has been announced, so it is their choice, and they really only have themselves to blame, if they have paid out on One For Rosie.

The problem is something similar happened at Sandown during the flat season, so it should not of happened again.

On to today’s racing.  At Plumpton, where the ground will ride soft Shantung 3.50 will handle the ground, she has a good chance of winning this handicap hurdle, she has top weight, but it does not look a strong race, with a number of horses out of form.  At Kempton this evening, Physics takes a drop down in trip in the 5.00, he ran well on his debut over 6f, the drop to 5f should be ok, he probably has most to fear from Orange Blossom, she has the most experience and was a good second last time at the track, at 6/1 she is a bit of value each way.