Maxse: TV expose is lightweight

Jockey Club public relations officer John Maxse today vigorously defended racing in the light of allegations made in the controversial Kenyon Confronts programme.

He claimed there were "a number of holes" in the "lightweight" BBC show, which focused on the alleged attempt to land a coup with Seattle Alley, and believes no serious damage will be done to the sport's public perception.

But he hinted at possible charges under the rule covering 'bringing racing into disrepute' after last night's broadcast, wh i ch feat u red secret filming of David Wintle, Ferdy Murphy and Jamie Osborne. The trio have each independently claimed since the programme that their comments were either misinterpreted or taken out of context. Referring to the possibility of disciplinary action, he told the attheraces television channel: "I don't anticipate us bringing in Mr Wintle with regard to the running and riding of Seattle Alley.

"I don't want to get pushed into a corner right now about what action we might take but there is a catch-all rule which is rule 220 which deals with situations which aren't dealt with by any other rule and it calls itself 'bringing racing into disrepute' and some individuals within racing have been fined under that rule in the past."

If anything, Maxse felt the programme was less damaging than he had feared.

"There were very few surprises," he said. "The trainers involved had actually been in touch with us as soon as they knew they had been filmed and informed us of some of the more damaging things that might be broadcast. They didn't get anyone I would call really objective from the betting fraternity to explain how the system works.

"And there was clearly a huge hole when the lined-up gamble on Seattle Alley went so badly wrong. To try and claim that cheating is going on every day and that the public are being deceived and defrauded really would need the gamble to be pulled off to show that it did happen all the time."