Bumpers need major reform - and Ascot was right not to waste its money on them

The McNeill family won two bumpers last weekend and were therefore uniquely placed to make an observation regarding such races, which they did via Twitter on Monday. At Ascot on Saturday, the winner Thames Water collected £2,723. At Punchestown on Sunday, Cato Capone picked up twice as much (€6,195, or £5,333).

While the tweet was at pains not to sound ungrateful, the implication seemed pretty clear: chalk up another one to Britain's prize-money malaise. Overall, though, Ascot's seven-race card, with two Grade 2s, was worth £354,000 while Punchestown – eight races, one Grade 1 and one Grade 2 – was worth €275,000 (£237,000). Boothill got more for winning a Class 2 handicap than State Man got for winning the Morgiana.

So this is really about where tracks choose to spend their money, and in this case I am firmly with Ascot. Encouraging the competitiveness of bumpers should be miles down racing's priorities. The purpose of a bumper is for a horse to gain experience before going jumping and if there needs to be reform then it should be done with this in mind.