Every time I read the racing papers I can't help wondering how much money these tipping lines draw out of punters.

It's time a lot of these so-called professionals were stopped from selling so-called information to unsuspecting punters.

I read a leaflet about a southern jockeys' agent who for a fee will give information about his jockeys' mounts. I wonder what the owners and trainers who these jockeys ride for think about that.

A lot of the information that these tipping lines give is just one person's opinion.

In my view they are conning unsuspecting punters out of a lot of money. It's high time they were stopped - you would be better off reading the paper and coming up with your own conclusions on likely winners.

After all, if they were that clever why aren't they just backing their own tips and making a fortune?

KEVIN Darley and Kieren Fallon are having a fantastic battle for the Jockeys Championship.

It looks as though it's going to be a close call between them but, as I wrote at the start of the season, I think Fallon will prevail.

Darley has been in superb form again this season but Fallon always has a lot of winners in September and October which I think will win him another title.

THE foot-and-mouth epidemic still goes on and it's costing the racing industry millions.

When you read that the Government had it under control in May, why are we still getting new outbreaks every day? Do they know what they are doing?They'd like us to believe they do, but we are now in the eighth month of foot-and-mouth. When will it end?

TODAY sees Storyteller at Haydock but I think a low draw one will count against him.

Northern Echo probably runs at Hereford or Uttoxeter next week. It's hard to say how well he'll run until we see the entries and the ground but he's certainly well in himself.

Column Published: 08/09/01