Paddington’s rise is epic – but what the hell’s happened to Chaldean? Plus my thoughts on the World Pool

WORLD Pool might not be the saviour, but we keep getting told it’s crucial to the future of British racing.

Indeed, I’m as guilty as anyone else on TV, as I have constantly talked about World Pool funds and their importance.

PA

Paddington has been a sensation for Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien[/caption]

And yet, we still have very little information to work on with World Pool despite its constant promotion.

Transparency with World Pool should be simple. Money taken. Money paid out. Profits. Who gets what.

And most importantly, in the case of British racecourses, what the money is then used for. Simple.

But it’s not simple as we don’t have any of the figures.

For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, World Pool was created by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, in partnership with the UK Tote and Ascot Racecourse, and in collaboration of over 20 operators, enabling bettors from all over the globe to bet into a single pool.

The idea is to create a mega pool, which means Tote odds – historically so fragile to one big bet and the horror of punters thinking they might be getting, say, odds of ‘evens’ about a horse only to actually have a return of 1-2 – can be taken with confidence.

We simply don’t know much about World Pool hand outs.

Back in 2021, though, this was said by Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of Hong Kong Jockey Club. “The World Pool days produce a major additional income for racecourses like Ascot – between £500,000 – £800,000 per race day which makes a major difference to the bottom line.”

The pools are growing all the time. So one would tentatively assume the figure now is more between £750,000 to £1million.

It’s believed York and Goodwood put all their money back into prize-money.

But in general it’s all a mystery. And how much is the Hong Kong Jockey Club coining in?

World Pool might be incredible for British Racing.

But at the moment all you will get is journalists and broadcasters telling you World Pool is this and that with no evidence to back up what anyone is saying.

That needs to change. Let’s see the figures. And let’s have all racecourses saying exactly where every penny goes.

It would also be nice to know the profits for those running the operation. Simple accounting.

On the track, Eclipse hero Paddington is getting better and better.

Chaldean is getting worse and worse. Maybe the latter needs a new diet of marmalade sandwiches.

It’s so hard for a top class racehorse to continue to be top class.

That’s whay those horses who do bring it to the table time and time again are so special.

Like Sea the Stars, Giant’s Causeway, Rock of Gibraltar and, naturally, Frankel.

Paddington has gone from being a handicapper to a three-time Group 1 hero.

Chaldean, on the other hand, was a brilliant juvenile taking the Dewhurst.

He’s also a 2000 Guineas hero, but he lost his way in the St James’s Palace Stakes when going too hard and was dismal in yesterday’s Prix Jean Prat where he lacked puff from start to finish.

Only time will tell if Chaldean can bounce back. We all hope he does, but as many have said before they are not machines.

The Flat season in Europe is still waiting for a dazzling performance to really get us going.

It’s the July meeting this week and Goodwood is around the corner. There’s still time. Bring it on.

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