Beckett optimistic about talks after Arc's Cruddace strikes conciliatory note

Ralph Beckett believes there is cause for optimism ahead of next week's crucial talks to resolve the current prize-money row, after Arena Racing Company chief executive Martin Cruddace called for "sensible heads" to prevail.

The leading figure in the revolt by trainers and owners against Arc's cuts to prize-money, Beckett said he detected a notable softening in Cruddace's tone from comments made a week earlier at Lingfield on Winter Derby day.

But Beckett, a board member of the National Trainers Federation, refuted any allegation that the selective boycotting of races at Arc tracks had been achieved by what a spokesman on Friday labelled as trainers placing illegal pressure on colleagues and jockeys to boycott races.

The multiple Classic-winning trainer said: "I've seen everything that has been said and I would like to see proof of bullying because nothing I've seen has come remotely close to bullying or coercion."

Reacting to Cruddace's appearance on ITV's Opening Show on Saturday, Beckett said: "I'm a natural optimist. I thought his approach today was significantly different to a week ago, and that's the bottom line as far as future negotiations are concerned."

This week Beckett sent an email to 500 of his colleagues proposing no entries should be made for the meetings at Fontwell and Lingfield on Wednesday, Southwell the following day and Lingfield and Newcastle on March 8. All tracks are owned by Arc.

Support for Beckett's call to arms has been strong and the next action taken in protest against the Arc cuts will be at Sedgefield on Sunday, where the £3,500 2m1f handicap hurdle will be staged as a walkover, while there are only two entries for a novice event at Lingfield next Wednesday.

Greybychoice had a walkover win at Lingfield last SaturdayCredit: Mark Cranham

A second walkover is also a possibility after just one entry was received for a fillies' novice median auction stakes at Lingfield on Friday.

That race was re-opened along with a further four at the track and four at Newcastle later that evening.

Day of (in)action? Friday's re-opened races

Lingfield
2.10 (Class 5) 7 entries
2.40 (C6) 8 entries
3.15 (C5) 3 entries
3.50 (C6) 3 entries
4.20 (C6 worth £4,800) 1 entry

Newcastle
5.20 (C5) 9 entries
5.55 (C6) 4 entries
6.30 (C4) 5 entries
7.30 (C6) 7 entries

Speaking on The Opening Show, Cruddace said: "I'm desperate that we resolve this, not just for us – we're going to be fine – it's desperate for the industry, which I care a lot about. There was a potential deal last week that would've given us a moratorium for a month.

Martin Cruddace called for 'sensible heads' to prevail in next week's talks aimed at resolving the prize-money crisisCredit: Edward Whitaker

"It didn't quite happen but there are discussions going to go ahead next week with senior leaders of racing – horsemen, owners and racecourses – and I do believe that, with sensible heads, we can find a way through this, because we have to.

"For me, the most immediate need is to put £4.5 million that we cannot unlock, that’s sitting in reserves, for those Class 4, 5 and 6 races, which is £1,400 a race. That's the most immediate need."

One key stumbling block to a temporary deal last week appears to have been Arc's proposal to make good of the funding shortfall for a month by reallocating prize-money from higher up the racing pyramid, in order to unlock the extra Levy Board funds.

It was a theme Cruddace returned to, saying: "We do need an industry discussion about whether or not we have the right balance between the prize-money at the top end, and the prize-money in Class 4, 5 and 6 races on the Flat, [and Class] 3, 4 and 5 over jumps, which actually is the pyramid of the sport's funding.

"I think it actually depends on having grown up discussions with horsemen, with racecourses, about whether we have the allocation mechanism right. That's what we need to do. You've seen the prize-money reduction in the Cesarewitch, is that a model that we need to flow through?"

Cruddace was at pains to point out that legal action would only be taken as a last resort when pushed.

He said: "No, as a chief executive of a company with fiduciary duties, there’s no way I’m going to do that [rule out legal action]. But I'm a litigator in my past and I'm the most reluctant litigator in the word, so I hope we don't get to that point."

Hostility between racing professionals and Arc had heightened on Friday when the under-fire racecourse group edged closer to taking legal action with the claim it has evidence some trainers are placing illegal pressure on colleagues and jockeys to boycott races.

One trainer keen that the more conciliatory mood takes hold was Oliver Sherwood who, speaking on Saturday at Doncaster, felt that a solution needs to be found quickly in order to protect the image of racing among the wider public.

"I'm not a politics man but I know where the trainers and jockeys are coming from," said Sherwood. "I hope it's resolved amicably. I hope everyone can get round a table and sort it out. It's not good for racing to get this publicity into the daily press.

"We want to encourage people to come racing. It's very expensive to keep horses in training, it's a hobby for some wealthy people, but we want to encourage people to come into racing. The money at the top end is A1, it's the bottom end. And there are more average horses than good horses."

Read The Briefing from 8.30am daily on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app with all the day's latest going, weather, market moves and non-runner news