Tough to find winners at York today.  So if I was having a bet, it would be looking for a bet with some decent value. Sword Beach at 22/1 is a bit of value each way in the 2.25.  Consistent form, and a really good effort last time, the race is very open and I would rather back an outsider than one of the shorter priced ones.  Run Rux is a 28/1 shot in the 4.50, that is for 5 places with Bet365, so each way for small stakes is worth an interest.  Still on the upgrade, and a game winner last time at Mussleburgh, this will be much tougher, but the race is wide open.

At Fontwell  Gateway To Europe 5.50 has been running well, he looks honest enough, just lacks a top gear.  I thought today was a good opportunity to get his head in front under regular rider Bryony Frost.

Whip issues

A lot has been written in the press regarding the whip lately.  It was even on a bus in London recently, with a question of why are jockeys allowed to use them in a race.  One trainer Charlie Fellows, who had a winner at the Royal meeting in June, even suggested that his horse should of been disqualified, because its jockey Hayley Turner had gone over the allowed number of times she can hit the horse.  She picked up a ban, as the stewards deemed her use as excessive.  The whip is an essential part of a jockeys equipment as far as I see it,  I would say that no jockey has the urge to use the whip, unless he feels he or she has to, but the biggest problem a rider would face if the whip is banned, is horses would start to stop, refuse and run out,  or off the track during a race, with the worst case scenario happening, that is a rider gets seriously hurt or even worse.  I believe the majority of people who have the opinion that the whip should be banned, have never ridden in a race, so have very little idea of what goes on.  So hopefully common sense will prevail and the whip will always be allowed to be carried by a jockey when riding in a race.

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