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Prize-money gains have served to contaminate the Pattern's original ethos
The New One (centre) goes toe to toe with My Tent Or Yours (left) at CheltenhamCredit: Mark Cranham
Every time the subject of the Pattern is aired, it serves to emphasise just how far from its original ethos the system has strayed.
As much was clear from Cheltenham director Ian Renton’s response to Nigel Twiston-Davies’ gripe after The New One was beaten by My Tent Or Yours, who received 6lb from the runner-up on Saturday.
Part of Renton’s justification for that sizeable weight concession was that the race produced a thrilling spectacle by delivering one of the best finishes outside the festival in recent years.
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Julian MuscatFeatures writer
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more inComment
- We know that times are tight - but racecourses really do need to step up and improve outdated weighing rooms
- The budget has heaped even more trouble on racing - and I fear many trainers will now decide the numbers just don't add up
- Why I think Cheltenham Festival handicaps need to change - JP McManus writes exclusively for the Racing Post
- No-one has ever emerged from the womb wearing a trilby - racing's future survival hangs on pursuing a young audience
- Four score and ten just a number to Peter Harris as July Cup triumph shows there's more to the elderly than medical conditions