JONATHAN KAY

Weblog: Our chief correspondent on the topical issues

I've seen a refreshing future: it's called Coral TV

IT has been a little longer than usual since my last missive so plenty of ground to cover, beginning with the Racing PostJuvenile at Wimbledon on March 2 which probably threw up as many questions as answers.

For what it is worth, some of the comments I’ve seen about Ten Large Down not enhancing his williamhill.com Derby claims in victory are frankly staggering. He might not have pleased the clockwatchers, but a top class contest such as that was always likely to see the scrimmaging that duly occurred and I do wonder if those knocking him are those who get excited when a class youngster beats five outclassed sorts by half the track.

I thought Newlawn Class and Eye Onthe Storm emerged with great credit, Shaws Dilemma clearly needs to step up in trip but may not while the opportunity to survive a long way in the Derby remains, while Lenson Bolt and Westmead Logan probably have to prove that they are in the top bracket this year.

Mark Wallis made his feelings about the seeding of some of the runners well known beforehand and I make him absolutely right. The way the Juvenile was framed in terms of the invited runners, the only box it was fair for Eye Onthe Storm to run from was trap one, but debatable seeding decisions meant he had just a one in four chance of getting it and ended up with a worst-case scenario of four.

The Betfair Trainers’ Championship luncheon the day following the Juvenile was the usual high-class affair and it really has become one of the main highlights for the qualifying trainers. It is a great opportunity to reflect on the achievement of finishing in the top six in the standings, and steal a rare relaxing moment in an otherwise hectic period as the campaign goes into overdrive.

I’m told some were still going strong at 10.30pm having taken in the England v Egypt game in a local pub, although no-one was still reported on the missing list two days later as was famously the case a couple of years ago.

This week saw Henlow host Category One action with the heats of the Grand Prix, a competition which was so much better for Paul Hennessy making the trip over once again. Henlow will also have been thrilled that off-course firms, traditionally cautious to say the least with anything to do with thetrack, felt confident enough to offer ante-post prices.

Finally on Tuesday this week, I saw the future and the future is Coral TV. In one of their shops to watch The Queen Mother Memorial heats at Sheffield, how refreshing it was to be treated with respect in the way the racing was covered.

The all-new Coral TV 1 and Coral TV 2 allowed for replays of the action to be shown and we were not bombarded with virtual flies up a wall just to fill 20 seconds. It was a real slick production and made for an enjoyable evening even if the results did not!