Blow as Balding withdraws from BBC job race

BBC racing presenter Clare Balding has withdrawn her application to become the new director of BBC Sport in a blow to any hope of the corporation reversing its decision to cut back on live coverage of the turf from next year.

With racing due to be down to as little as 13 days a year on the BBC in 2010, Balding would have been highly under-used but has proved a brilliant presenter in other aspects of sport including the Olympics.

Balding's withdrawal from the running to replace Roger Mosey, who is moving to become BBC director of the London Olympics in 2012, leaves four candidates in the running - none of whom are thought to have a high regard for racing.

Philip Bernie (head of BBC TV sport editorial), Barbara Slater (BBC head of general sport), Kevin Bakhurst (controller of BBC News channel) and Niall Sloane (who oversees the BBC's football department) are being interviewed this week with Bernie closely linked to the decision to reduce racing coverage from 27 days to 13 from next year.

Mosey is due to meet an All Party Racing Committee tonight but is not thought to have any plans to reverse the decision to cutback on coverage.