TONY CALVIN: ASFOORA, Murphy, Dwyer, Punters, ITV – and the importance of the BHA stewards’ reports

Right, let’s lay out the legal groundwork before we proceed.

Under no circumstances am I in any way suggesting that there was anything untoward in the betting, or the ride itself, that saw Asfoora finish a lifeless last of nine in the Group 3 Coral Charge at Sandown on Saturday as the 9/4 favourite.

I think we are all guilty of casting unwarranted aspersions on occasions, without reflecting on the potential personal defamation minefield that could result from them.

Tread lightly, all.

There’s unexploded legal bombs in dem hills…

Of course, the BHA will have gone through their normal integrity processes here, but that isn’t the purpose of this column.

The intention of this piece is to, once again, underline how shortchanged punters are when it comes to being given information that they are surely entitled to as the sport’s biggest funder alongside owners.

Treat them with contempt at your peril.

The latest example is Asfoora’s performance on Saturday, on which the stewards’ report read: “Following the race, Oisin Murphy reported that ASFOORA (AUS), unplaced, was slowly away.”

Now come on.

That is absolutely laughable.

More of that groundwork, this time factual, before I proceed.

Let’s start with the betting.

Asfoora was a general 2/1 chance in the morning market but drifted out to 4/1+ on Betfair close to the off, despite one of the 3/1 morning joint second favourites , Words Of Truth, coming out at 9.49am because of a bad scope.

But she shortened back into an industry SP of 9/4 in the closing minutes of trade, with the Betfair SP returning at 3.65.

She never traded shorter than either of those SPs in running after a slow start, but she certainly didn’t miss it like Tribal Chief in the following Sandown race.

The race was still there to be won.

The BHA integrity department may know better ( I didn’t ask) but it seems to be very much a case of nothing to see here as regards the betting.

On the other hand, that stewards’ report was as insulting to punters as it gets.

Now, the horse, a triple Group 1-winner in the UK, ran no sort of race as the 9/4 favourite in an ITV race, and, unless I missed it, Oisin Murphy did not go for his stick once (maybe a gentle back-handed strike at one stage).

In finishing an 8 ½-length last of nine in this lesser grade, the 7yo mare, with 33 runs under her belt, may be on her last racing legs in the UK – though maybe they’ll take one more swing at Goodwood or in the Nunthorpe she won last year at York next month – and the erudite Murphy could have got no feel from her whatsoever, so he felt no need to get overly-vigorous.

Jockeys know a lot more than viewers do, that is for sure.

But that is entirely the point.

I am guessing.

And I shouldn’t need to be.

I find it inconceivable that the stewards didn’t ask Murphy about the horse and the ride, and perhaps trainer Henry Dwyer, too (he was pretty bullish on ITV beforehand), so why not print that verbatim in the report on the BHA site?

It is the very least the paying public, and punters, deserve.

I was flicking between rugby (sorry Harry) and the ITV coverage all afternoon, so I may have missed it (and Racing TV may have addressed it), but I didn’t see any of the five ITV pundits and presenters on duty at Sandown question any aspect of Asfoora’s performance immediately after the race.

It immediately begged questions to be asked.

Racing can do with any quick and easy wins these days – and well done for the BHA for responding very quickly to an enquiry of mine on the Newmarket photo finish betting just a few minutes later on Saturday afternoon – and inadequate, and frankly insulting, stewards’ reports are one area which are ripe for upheaval, and increased transparency and openness.

And more searching questions.

Peter Michael on X would perhaps have been speaking for many when he wrote about the Asfoora stewards’ report (I tidied it up a bit for you Pete):

“Unfortunately punters do not get anywhere near what they deserve or even the basics and this is a major reason why the sport is where it is today and is backfiring as we speak.

“Treated with contempt from bookmakers down to stewards daily. No other sport treats customers so badly.”

See It. Say It. Sorted.

Stewards’ reports, and the need for obvious and pressing questions to be seen to be asked and answered, are a common theme of mine on the AKBets’ The Racing Room podcast – among other tedious, repetitive moans,, granted…. – so this is just the latest example.

Greater transparency can quash a lot of the irresponsible criticism on social media – I have no problem with considered critiques about rides – directed towards jockeys and trainers.

An easy win for the BHA and their stewards.

And maybe for horsemen and women too, as a direct result.

See It. Say It. Sorted.