Thursday 21 February

We hit the headlines last night for the wrong reasons, as Toms ride on Benefit Cut in Doncaster yesterday was not looked on favourably by the stewards and he received a 10 day ban which rules him out of all 4 days of the Cheltenham Festival. I will say here that Benefit Cut is not an easy ride (he takes a fierce grip) and yesterdays tactics were no different to the ones used in his previous 2 hurdle outings.Everybody connected with the horse is satisfied with the ride he received and nobody wants to see him thrashed to finish 6th instead of seventh. We wish Tom the best of luck if he decides to appeal the ban. Benefit Cut seems fine this morning, and we learnt a great deal about him yesterday. Smart Exit will be entered today for a handicap hurdle in 'Leafy' Lingfield next Wednesday. We may have to look for a replacement jockey there as well as it seems as though Josh Moore may be on the sidelines for a day or two with a dislocated shoulder. SE seems in good form at home.