Proceedings set to start over off tube commentaries

Legal proceedings are set to commence against Ladbrokes Coral and Betfred over their use of 'off tube commentaries' from the British racecourses covered by new betting channel The Racing Partnership (TRP), the Racing Post understands.

Customers visiting Coral, Ladbrokes and Betfred shops on Monday were unable to watch live British racing as the commercial standoff between the bookmakers involved and TRP over pictures continues.

The commentaries were the subject of a court hearing last week, when a judge was asked to decide whether the bookmakers involved should disclose information about how they were produced. The firms have recently ceased the commentaries.

On Monday, At The Races and Arena Racing Company were told they had sufficient information to commence proceedings.

Neither side was prepared to comment.

In January, legal proceedings were also issued against Ladbrokes Coral and Betfred over claims the firms were misusing TRP's data.

Racing took place on Monday at Southwell, Wolverhampton and Lingfield, three of the 15 Arc tracks and seven independent racecourses that make up TRP.

The three courses – along with Doncaster, Windsor and Worcester – moved from SIS to TRP on January 1.

Fakenham, Hexham and Towcester switched in May, with the remainder moving to TRP from New Year's Day 2018.

Paddy Power and a number of other independents have signed up to the service, but William Hill are the only major UK chain to have agreed a deal with TRP.

Hills' interim chief executive Philip Bowcock said last month that it was too early to gauge what difference that had made to their retail operation.