Racing review: Hotpots and howlers from the last seven days in the world of horse racing
Who flopped and who made the headlines for the right reasons in the last seven days?
IT'S that pre-Cheltenham time of the year, when podcasts, previews, TV programmes and the like are all focused on the Festival.
But there's some important stories bubbling away under the surface and here at Sun Racing we've picked through this weeks heroes and villains.
There's only one place to start and that's with the howler that is the prize money debate continuing into its second week.
The coverage has been largely supportive of the trainers and owners sticking to their guns as the powers that be stick to their statements and soundbites.
ARC believes it has solved the situation by releasing previously 'locked' prize money from the Levy after talks with various representative groups within the sport.
But, and it's a big but, this is a classic case of whacking a great big plaster over a cut and hoping it all heals. Short term gain in other words.
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Yet, it's the model of racing that needs a complete rethink. The money ARC has been putting up of late is not viable for small stables to get by.
While many at the lower level simply run their operation as a hobby and will scrape by no matter what, that's not the case for all.
No other sport fails to look into the future quite like racing. With the threat of legal action, fines and the likelihood of the mainstream press soon turning this into further negative coverage of the sport; it's time people got around a table and had a serious conversation about where the sport is headed.
The sport needs some streamlining and needs to learn from other sports who are not scared of making bold calls for the sake of the future.
Saturday was a day to remember for the Oliver Sherwood team, who ran up a double at Doncaster headlined by Papagana in the Mares' Novice Hurdle.
It was a bold bit of placing as her handicap mark looked ripe for picking, yet connections were rewarded with some black type and a decent pay day.
She looks a stayer on the up and put a couple of promising and hardy rivals to the sword over three miles on the Town Moor.
Manning Estate followed up two races later and looks a young horse that can make an impact in some good handicaps before the season is up.
Saturday was a day Paddy Brennan will want to put behind him though.
Theatre Guide looked home and hosed in the valuable Veterans' Chase, before a terrible mistake at the last meant Paddy was unable to get his mount driving again.
From nowhere Carole's Destrier flew into shot and despite Brennan's best efforts he could not find the balance or power to get Theatre Guide going.
It wasn't pretty and I'm sure Brennan will have deleted Racing Replay from his planner the second he got home.
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Newcastle Racecourse deserves huge credit for it's innovation on Friday night and they're rewarded with a slot in our 'Hotpots'.
The city hosts two huge universities and on Friday they put on a Student race night for their evening meet.
The reaction was massively positive and a large crowd showed up to enjoy the racing and a drink or two.
It's a popular event in Ireland and should be done so, so, so much more on British shores. Winning over some new fans is vitally important to this sport that tends to turn its nose up at similar events.
And, there wasn't even a Little Mix tribute act in sight.